Healthcare Industry News: cobas
News Release - August 1, 2016
Roche receives CLIA waiver for cobas(R) Influenza A/B & RSV test for the cobas(R) Liat(R)
PLEASANTON, Calif., Aug. 1, 2016 -- (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) waiver for the cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV test for use on the cobas® Liat® System. Roche is the first manufacturer to extend the value of highly accurate CLIA-waived molecular testing beyond flu A/B and strep A to include Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a cause of more than 80% of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants under one year of age.1In the US, an average of 58,000 hospitalizations and 2.1 million outpatient visits in children under five years are attributed to RSV. A significant number is also seen in adults over 65 years with 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths per year2. A quick detection and discrimination of flu and RSV enables clinicians to optimize patient management and antiviral treatment.
The cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV test is the third assay on the cobas® Liat® System to receive CLIA waiver, following the cobas® Strep A and cobas® Influenza A/B tests, which received CLIA waiver in May and September 2015, respectively. The cobas® Liat® Analyser and all three assays are FDA cleared and CLIA waived.
About the cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV test
The cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV test uses real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology to detect and differentiate influenza A virus RNA, influenza B virus RNA and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA in about 20 minutes. It targets well-conserved regions of influenza A, influenza B and RSV RNA to provide broad strain coverage and has been validated on over 40 commonly found strains of influenza A and B and seven commonly found strains of RSV.
About the cobas® Liat® System
Utilizing PCR technology, the cobas® Liat® System fully automates the testing process, simplifies workflow and enables healthcare professionals to perform molecular testing in a variety of settings with speed, reliability and minimal training. Definitive results are generated in 20 minutes or less to aid a treatment decision. In addition to the existing tests for influenza A/B, strep A and influenza A/B & RSV, assays for other infectious diseases are in development.
About real-time PCR
Real-time PCR is widely recognized as the gold standard for molecular testing. It is highly accurate and offers a low limit of detection (LOD) to detect viruses in patients with low viral load, such as some adults with influenza infection. PCR is also extremely versatile, offering capabilities with high multiplex testing (e.g. influenza A, influenza B and RSV in the same test), quantification (viral load count), and detection. Additionally, compared to physician clinical management, rapid antigen testing and other point-of-care testing methods, real-time PCR has demonstrated improved detection of influenza.3,4
More information is available at go.roche.com/cobasliat or www.cobasliat.com.
The cobas® Liat® System is not commercially available in all markets.
About Respiratory Syncytial Virus
RSV is one of the most contagious human pathogens, but with limited antigenic and strain diversity.5 It is the most common cause of childhood acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), causing more than 60% of acute LRTI in children, and more than 80% in infants under one year of age.6 Symptoms of adults with RSV infection are usually consistent with an upper respiratory tract infection such as the common cold. Acute illness lasts 5–10 days, but the cough may be prolonged for several weeks.7 Mild RSV infections are resolved without treatment, but infants and children with a severe RSV infection may be admitted to the hospital.8 Real-time PCR assays are recommended due to their high sensitivity, particularly since many patients may have low viral loads.9
Source: Roche Group
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