The new Roche diagnostic test identifies 25 viruses and bacteria to help clinicians provide targeted care for high-risk patients.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
Expanded Pathogen Detection: The test identifies up to 25 viral and bacterial targets simultaneously, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Flexible Syndromic Testing: Laboratories can customize up to five distinct panels based on local infection trends or specific patient needs.
Clinical Workflow Efficiency: The testing process requires less than one minute of hands-on time, which may help hospitals manage isolation beds and reduce emergency room wait times.
Roche announced the launch of the cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3 (RP3), a diagnostic test designed to detect a variety of viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illness, according to the company. The test is currently available in countries that accept the CE mark.
Differential diagnosis for respiratory infections is often difficult because different viruses and bacteria can produce similar symptoms, according to the news release. For vulnerable patients, such as the elderly and young children, these infections can be 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.
The test detects more than 20 viral and bacterial pathogens simultaneously. According to the company, this allows healthcare providers to start appropriate treatments earlier, implement infection control measures, and potentially avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
The system requires less than one minute of hands-on time to begin the testing process. Roche stated that the speed of results may help hospitals better manage isolation beds and reduce the time patients spend in emergency departments.
The cobas eplex RP3 panel is a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test that can differentiate up to 25 targets. It detects common pathogens such as influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The panel also includes pathogens such as Bordetella parapertussis and Chlamydia pneumoniae, which can cause severe illness in high-risk patients.
The panel also features flexible syndromic testing. This allows laboratories to customize up to five distinct panels based on unique patient presentations or local prevalence needs, according to the company.