A year after becoming the first site in the UK to benefit from the latest development in diagnostic testing from Roche Diagnostics, a pathology service in South Wales has seen turnaround times and overall efficiency of its laboratory transformed.
The cobas e 801 analytical unit is a high-volume immunology testing platform, which runs up to 1200 tests an hour on a four-module configuration, was first installed at Morriston Hospital, which acts as the hub site for the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, in June 2016.
Designed to the alleviate demands and meet growing workloads, the cobas e 801 module maximises laboratory efficiency by doubling immunochemistry testing capacity on the same footprint. The module delivers higher consolidation at a high throughput, continuous operation and, at the same time, reduces the amount of waste generated. In addition, its flexibility permits the efficient use of existing resources such as space, infrastructure and personnel.
After conducting initial comparison work, the cobas e 801 analytical unit was installed into the functional lines at Morriston hospital, where over the course of the past year the speed and ease of the equipment has helped to manage high volumes of samples from across the Health Board.
The features in the cobas e 801 analytical unit are the culmination of years of development based on Roche’s ongoing commitment to its customers. In 2010, Roche convened a Europe-wide customer-led advisory board to understand the challenges faced by the modern laboratory. Biomedical scientists from across the South Wales region were invited to attend the event and provide insight into the day-to-day demands of laboratories and also the innovations needed to help them cope with rising pressures.