Roche unveils intelligent automation management solution at 2013 Clinical Lab Expo

HOUSTON, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced plans today at the AACC 2013 Clinical Lab Expo for the U.S. introduction of the cobas 8100 automated workflow series, an advanced system designed to automate many routine tasks to help diagnostic laboratories increase efficiency, reduce expenses and maximize patient safety.

"This total lab automation solution can make a significant contribution to effective medical decision-making and higher efficiency in the medical laboratory," said Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "In addition to helping labs lower costs and minimize the risk of sample mix-ups, it offers short and predictable turnaround times to help physicians make fast and reliable treatment decisions for patients."

Using intelligent robotics, the cobas 8100 series automatically prepares blood samples for immediate testing and post-analytical processing, providing high-speed processing of up to 1,100 samples per hour. The system offers dynamic and efficient sample transport options and great flexibility, allowing labs to automate both routine and STAT tests. Healthcare professionals benefit from on-time, high quality diagnostic results for both routine and emergency tests, even at laboratory workload peaks.

The cobas 8100 series can easily be added onto Roche's existing cobas analyzers, and its flexible, modular design allows labs to grow over time as demand increases. Market availability in the U.S. is expected in 2015.

In addition to unveiling the cobas 8100 automated workflow series at the Clinical Lab Expo, Roche is sponsoring two workshops about critical industry issues in conjunction with the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting:

1. Improving Cardiac Test Turnaround Time by Collaboration Between the Lab and Emergency Department, a case study discussion by representatives from St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit about how collaboration contributed to improvements in outcomes and the patient experience.
2. Hepatitis C Virus in the U.S. from Three Perspectives: Trends, Treatment, and Diagnostics, a panel discussion with a laboratorian, an epidemiologist and a clinician about key issues in HCV—including the CDC's proposal for one-time hepatitis C testing for all baby boomers.

In its booth at the Expo (#4049), Roche will also be exhibiting a variety of in-vitro and tissue diagnostics solutions designed to enhance testing efficiency and provide reliable clinical information from central labs to hospital point of care, clinics and patient homes. Specific product areas include integrated clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyzers, molecular diagnostics platforms, lab automation, immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization systems, handheld point-of-care testing monitors, and information technology solutions.

Selected products to be featured in the booth include:

ACCU-CHEK Inform II system—the first POC blood glucose device to offer meter-level wireless technology for accurate, real-time patient data transfer.

CoaguChek XS Plus System—now CLIA-waived, the handheld PT/INR meter may be used in labs that do not meet the requirements to perform moderate- or high-complexity testing.

cobas 4800 System—offering true walk-away automation of nucleic acid purification, PCR set-up and real-time PCR amplification and detection, the system also runs the cobas CT/NG Test, the cobas BRAF V600 Mutation Test and the cobas EGFR Mutation Test.

cobas 8000 modular analyzer series—third-generation integrated analyzer series that resets the standard for speed and efficiency in high-volume chemistry and immunoassay testing.

MODULAR PRE-ANALYTICS (MPA) system—a turnkey automation solution designed for labs that seek greater consolidation by connecting with Roche integrated analytics.

cobas 6500 analyzer series*—fully automated solution for urinalysis testing.

*In development; not available for sale in the U.S.

cobas b 221 system—point-of-care blood gas analyzer that offers optimal reliability to help hospital staff provide outstanding patient care.

cobas p 312 and cobas p 612 pre-analytical systems—front-end automation solutions that offer comprehensive, vendor-neutral sample management to help labs improve workflow.

cobas IT 1000 connectivity solution—data management for point-of-care testing.

BenchMark ULTRA platform with Ultimate Reagent Access (URA)—the world's first platform that allows labs to stain individual IHC and ISH slides as soon as they arrive, improving sample turnaround time.

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, infectious diseases, inflammation, metabolism and neuroscience. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2012 Roche had over 82,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com or www.roche-diagnostics.us.

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law.

For further information, please contact:

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics