New cobas eplex RP3 panel detects up to 19 respiratory pathogens, including Bordetella pertussis, with results available in under two hours.
Roche has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3 (RP3), an automated syndromic test running on the cobas eplex system.
The test simultaneously identifies up to 19 viral and bacterial targets from a single nasopharyngeal swab sample. Expanding upon the capabilities of the cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 2 (EUA), the RP3 panel adds detection of Bordetella pertussis to widen target coverage for bacterial infections that can cause severe illness in high-risk patient populations, including the elderly, young children, and the immunocompromised. The assay also incorporates updated targets for influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 to improve inclusivity for circulating strains.
Flexible Panel Options for Clinical Laboratories
Enabled by cobas eplex system software version 3.0 or higher, the test offers up to five distinct panel configurations. This design allows clinical laboratories to align testing strategies with local disease prevalence and patient needs, helping facilities optimize laboratory resources during respiratory illness surges.
“Timely and accurate respiratory testing in critical situations can guide life-saving interventions. The cobas eplex RP3 panel gives laboratories the range of testing choices they need with quick turnaround times that can make a difference in patient care,” says Dan Malarek, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America, in a release.
Workflow and Diagnostic Stewardship
The panel uses an automated sample-to-answer workflow that requires less than one minute of hands-on preparation time, supports 24/7 laboratory operations, and delivers qualitative results in under two hours.
Rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial pathogens addresses diagnostic overlap during peak respiratory seasons, when symptoms frequently present similarly across infections. Rapid diagnostic turnaround supports antimicrobial stewardship by helping clinicians decrease unnecessary antibiotic use, reduce the volume of downstream diagnostic tests and radiographs ordered, and shorten patient discharge times.
Photo caption: cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3
Photo credit: Roche
