Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 May 2024

Image: The ePlex system has been rebranded as the cobas eplex system (Photo courtesy of Roche)

GenMark Diagnostics (Carlsbad, CA, USA), a member of the Roche Group (Basel, Switzerland), has rebranded its ePlex® system as the cobas eplex system. This rebranding under the globally renowned cobas name underscores Roche’s dedication to ongoing enhancement across its entire product line, encompassing everything from raw materials and manufacturing to quality control. The cobas eplex system has been redesigned with new features that enhance usability, reliability, and serviceability. Notable improvements include onboard quality control tracking and monitoring, eSignature capabilities, onboard epidemiology reports, email alerts, and customizable comments to support clinical decisions. Additionally, GenMark has refined its cartridge manufacturing processes, ensuring an adequate supply and enhanced validity. The system offers tests for infectious diseases, focusing on panels for respiratory and bloodstream infections, which can progress to sepsis, and the company is developing panels for gastrointestinal infections, meningitis, and encephalitis.

The cobas eplex system integrates the entire order-to-report process to maximize the benefits of rapid, syndromic molecular diagnostics for patients and laboratories. It offers a comprehensive sample-to-answer solution that boosts laboratory efficiency and meets a wide spectrum of infectious disease testing requirements. This includes tests for respiratory, bloodstream, and gastrointestinal infections. The cobas eplex system respiratory pathogen Panel 2 (RP2) is a multiplexed nucleic acid test for the qualitative detection of over 20 common viral and bacterial pathogens responsible for respiratory infections. The cobas eplex blood culture identification panels (BCID) are multiplexed nucleic acid tests for the qualitative detection of about 95% of the pathogens causing bloodstream infections that could lead to sepsis. This includes the widest range of gram-positive, gram-negative, and fungal organisms and resistance genes.

“We are pleased to offer the healthcare community a redesigned and enhanced cobas eplex system,” said Josh Lauer, Head of the Molecular Labs Customer Area at Roche Diagnostics Solutions. “These are syndromic panels, so patients can benefit from a rapid, comprehensive diagnosis for a broad range of pathogens that can cause infection with similar symptoms, for example, influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. This is especially important in patients who are at high risk, namely the elderly, very young and immunocompromised.”