Roche launches the cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3, a fast and comprehensive test to help clinicians treat patients with respiratory infections, in CE markets

Original from: PR Newswire

Roche (SIX: RO, ROP; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the launch of the cobas® eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3 (RP3), a new diagnostic test designed to detect a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illness. The test is now available in countries accepting the CE mark.

Differential diagnosis of respiratory infections can be complex because many of the viruses and bacteria associated with respiratory infections may cause very similar symptoms. For vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems, a respiratory infection can quickly become life-threatening.

"In respiratory care, time is everything. Knowing exactly what is making a patient sick allows clinicians to make fast, effective decisions that can save lives," said Josh Lauer, Global Head of Molecular Labs at Roche Diagnostics. "We are providing hospitals with a powerful tool to manage the complexity of respiratory infections, ensuring that patients — especially those at high risk — get the targeted care they need without delay."

The cobas eplex RP3 panel provides critical support to healthcare providers during peak respiratory seasons, which are the most demanding times of the year. The new test detects more than 20 different viral and bacterial pathogens simultaneously. This helps clinicians quickly pinpoint the exact cause of a patient's illness, allowing them to start the right treatment sooner, implement adequate infection and transmission control measures, and, in some cases, avoid unnecessary antibiotic use and improve patient prognosis.

With less than one minute of hands-on time required to start the test, it is incredibly easy for laboratory staff to use. With ease of use and fast time to results, the cobas eplex RP3 panel can help reduce the time patients spend in the emergency room and allows hospitals to better manage isolation beds, keeping infectious patients separate from others.

Source: Roche launches the cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3, a fast and comprehensive test to help clinicians treat patients with respiratory infections, in CE markets