Roche Diagnostics launches the cobas® 8000 modular analyzer series in Canada at BC Biomedical Laboratories

Vancouver site represents first North American installation of new high volume analyzer.

LAVAL, QC, May 12 /PRNewswire/ - Roche Diagnostics Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the cobas® 8000 modular analyzer series. In parallel with the launch of this latest member of Roche's "cobas" family of laboratory testing platforms, Roche Diagnostics Canada has completed the first North American installation of the cobas 8000 system at BC Biomedical Laboratories.

The cobas 8000 modular analyzer series, which fully integrates both clinical chemistry and immunoassay testing, is comprised of the cobas c 702, cobas c 701 and cobas c 502 modules for clinical chemistry as well as the cobas e 602 module for immunoassay testing. It is designed to meet the needs of high volume laboratories that perform between 3 to 15 million tests per year and delivers high quality results fast and efficiently from a single patient sample.

"At BC Bio, we are committed to providing diagnostic health care of the highest quality," said Brenda Jackson, Clinical Manager of Chemistry, Hematology and Cardiac Services at BC Biomedical Laboratories. "The cobas 8000 analyzer helps us deliver on our mission. It combines high-throughput performance with the analytical precision and sensitivity we require for our physicians and patients."

BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. is the largest physician-owned and operated laboratory in British Columbia. Each year, more than 1.9 million patients visit one of BC Biomedical's 45 Patient Service Centres throughout the Lower Mainland, which translates into a workload of approximately 10 million tests. "With the cobas 8000 we are able to processes over 60% of our total patient workload in a fraction of the time we used to take - a tremendous increase in productivity that allows us to refocus our staff on new value added tasks across the laboratory."

"What distinguishes the cobas 8000 is that it delivers true high-volume performance with a comprehensive testing menu that offers an unprecedented level of workload consolidation. For today's busy laboratories, this means greatly enhanced levels in testing efficiency and enhanced medical value." Added Christopher Parker, President and General Manager of Roche Diagnostics in Canada.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2010, Roche had over 80'000 employees worldwide and invested over 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

About BC Biomedical Laboratories

BC Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. is the community laboratory practice of Dr. C.J. Coady Associates and is the largest physician-owned and operated laboratory in British Columbia. Each year, more than 1.9 million patients visit one of our 45 Patient Service Centres throughout the Lower Mainland. For 50 years, our medical diagnostic services have been an integral part of the BC health care system. Our community laboratory helps to diagnose, manage and cure illness by providing laboratory services. Above all, we are dedicated to providing diagnostic health care of the highest quality. We support and promote the well-being of our employees, our patients, the physicians we serve, and our community.

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SOURCE Roche Diagnostics