Trade News
Rotkreuz/Switzerland, 29 September 2009
Roche launches intelligent workflow solution for high volume labs
The cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit for customized blood sample archiving helps lab professionals to save time, monitor quality and improve safety. The solution is designed for the automated storage of up to 27,000 tubes and is now commercially available in Europe as well as in all countries recognizing the CE mark in the EMEA, South America and Asia-Pacific regions.*
The manual storage of sample tubes after they have left the diagnostic analyzer is a time-consuming daily activity in many laboratories. Time, which could be utilized on more value added activities. “The workload for the laboratory staff increases even more, if the retrieval of samples from the storage room for additional analysis is necessary,” said Lars Oeltjen, Program Manager at Roche Diagnostics. “We have addressed these issues and created a solution: The cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit reduces manual handling steps for storage and retrieval and helps the lab professionals to concentrate on their most important tasks.”
In a first wave the device is being launched as a standalone solution. The global launch of a version which can be connected to Roche’s automated solution for sample preparation and transport, the MODULAR PRE-ANALYTICS, is scheduled for summer 2010. This configuration will then provide a fully integrated solution, which can execute the entire process from sample preparation, sample analysis to storage & retrieval with minimal manual operator interaction.
For the lab professional saving time is not the only advantage: Since every sample has to be regarded as potentially infectious, the reduction of physical contact with the sample tube also decreases the safety risk. Finally, the cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit offers complete quality control: The system is designed to continuously monitor the condition under which samples are stored, with the temperature in the cooled system remaining within the range of 4-8 °C. All relevant storage information is available locally at the instrument and can be accessed via the Laboratory Information System (LIS).
“Optimized workflows, proven quality and safety concerns represent crucial requirements in high throughput laboratories. With our cobas post-analytical unit we meet these needs and are proud to extend our comprehensive automation offering for diagnostic solutions”, summarized Dirk Ehlers, Head of Roche Professional Diagnostics.
About the system
The principle “automation” is seamlessly implemented in every aspect of the cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit. It includes automated storage of 400 tubes per hour, automated restopping and destopping of tubes as well as automated disposal of tubes after expiration. The cobas p 501 post-analytical unit has the capability to store 13,500 tubes, the cobas p 701 post-analytical unit 27,000 tubes. Connectivity via HL 7 protocol to the hospital network solution allows for IT integration.
Roche Diagnostic’s new cobas post-analytical unit was among the most innovative automation products at display on events like Euromedlab 2009 or last years’ AACC clinical expo, where it achieved the best ranking in a report from the independent healthcare consulting firm Boston Biomedical Consultants.
* cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit is not yet available in the US.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world’s biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system. In 2008 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 36.0 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 9.7 billion francs. Roche has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, and invested nearly 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D in 2008. Worldwide, the Group employs about 80,000 people. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.roche.com.
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