Roche’s molecular diagnostics portfolio
Roche’s product portfolio utilises cutting-edge technologies like real-time PCR and the tests we sell today can diagnose infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and tuberculosis as well as monitoring the anti-viral treatment of HIV-1 and hepatitis (B and C) on our COBAS® instruments. Roche is market leader for viral load testing (of HBV, HCV and HIV-1) in the UK providing the only fully automated testing platform, the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® System. For laboratories with a high sample workload, the system can now be combined with the new cobas p 630 instrument providing state-of-the-art, automated pre-analytical solutions for primary tube handling.
Roche has pioneered chlamydia trachomatis (CT) testing based on nucleic acid amplification techniques in the UK. More than a million CT PCR tests are performed every year in England using one of our COBAS® CT Tests. With the introduction of the new easy-to-use high-throughput cobas® 4800 system in 2009, we are now even better suited to support CT screening. Building upon this broad testing basis, Roche has expanded its service offering to support the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) with a support package to better reach the under 25s, including self-sampling kits and information materials.
Roche’s human papilloma virus (HPV) test allows early identification of women at risk of developing cervical pre-cancer. The test which identifies high risk HPV types associated with cervical cancer is performed on the cobas® 4800 platform. With the inclusion of HPV testing in the UK national cervical screening programme, Roche is well positioned to support roll-out of testing on the cobas® 4800 platform.
British blood authorities rely on Roche’s PCR-based cobas s 201 system to ensure the safety of blood supplies for transfusion by screening for the major viruses, HIV, HBV and HCV. 100% of all blood donations in England, Wales and Scotland are now tested with the cobas® TaqScreen® MPX Test.
Roche is pioneering the use of PCR in microbiology by offering both LightCycler® SeptiFast - an ultra-rapid test for the diagnosis of septicaemia (acute blood poisoning) - and LightCycler® MRSA Advanced - a simple, flexible and reliable test to incorporate molecular MRSA surveillance into a hospital's infection control programme.
Roche’s prime objective is to provide healthcare solutions which deliver superior options for diagnosis and treatment to clinicians and ultimately the patients. We are thus offering molecular companion diagnostic tests to support specific anti-cancer therapies. The TheraScreen®: K-RAS Mutation Kit for the LightCycler® 480 platform is intended to aid clinicians in identifying patients with advanced colorectal cancer who will experience clinical benefit from anti-EGFR therapies by detecting the 7 key mutations in the K-RAS gene.
We also market many diagnostic and research tests for the LightCycler® platform in the fields of virology (e.g. herpes viruses like CMV and EBV) and genetics (e.g. to detect mutations in human genes like Factor V).
NHS virology and microbiology laboratories and private testing companies make up the primary customer base of Roche’s molecular diagnostics business area, which is supported by a central marketing team together with a team of sales specialists, operating in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.