Roche announced on March 24 the launch of the cobas eplex respiratory pathogen panel 3 (RP3), a new diagnostic test designed to detect a wide range of viruses and bacteria responsible for respiratory illnesses, now available in countries that accept the CE mark. The company issued a correction stating that the number of detectable viruses and bacteria has been updated from 250 to 25.
The introduction of this test is significant because diagnosing respiratory infections can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms caused by various pathogens. Rapid and accurate identification is especially important for vulnerable groups such as older adults, young children, and people with weakened immune systems, who are at higher risk for severe complications.
“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. “We are providing hospitals with a powerful tool to manage the complexity of respiratory infections, ensuring that patients — especially those at high risk — get the targeted care they need without delay.”
The cobas eplex RP3 panel can simultaneously detect more than 20 viral and bacterial pathogens using less than one minute of hands-on time for laboratory staff. This efficiency supports healthcare providers during peak seasons by helping them quickly identify causes of illness, start appropriate treatment sooner, implement infection control measures, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, and better manage hospital resources such as isolation beds.
According to Roche’s release, the new panel runs on the cobas eplex system which features automated result reporting and external control tracking. It includes detection capabilities for common pathogens like influenza A/B and SARS-CoV-2 as well as newer targets such as Bordetella parapertussis and Chlamydia pneumoniae. The RP3 panel also introduces flexible syndromic testing options allowing labs to customize up to five distinct panels based on local needs or specific patient cases.
Roche was founded in Basel in 1896 and operates globally across diagnostics and pharmaceuticals sectors with products available in over 150 countries. Genentech is its fully owned U.S.-based subsidiary while Roche holds majority ownership in Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan.
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Looking ahead, Roche continues developing diagnostics aimed at improving patient outcomes by enabling faster decision-making within clinical settings.
