Switzerland-based Roche has introduced its donor screening assay cobas DPX test in markets that accept the CE mark.
The real-time PCR duplex assay, which runs on the cobas6800/8800 Systems, has been developed for parvovirus B19 (B19V) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in human plasma.
Roche Molecular Diagnostics head Paul Brown said: "Roche is committed to providing the broadest coverage and most efficient blood and plasma screening tests to ensure the highest safety for patients.
"Introducing cobas DPX to the cobas 6800/8800 Systems is an important step toward that goal, complementing our current donor screening tests for the detection of HIV, HCV, HBV, WNV and HEV."
The cobas DPX will allow blood and plasma testing centers to quickly identify and remove HAV-contaminated units, while reducing the B19V burden in plasma pools simultaneously.
According to Roche, testing facilities can increase the processing efficiency of donations and preserve safety standards for plasma products used in transfusions and other therapeutic treatments for patients, by carrying out nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) with cobas DPX.
The cobas DPX assay and the cobas 6800/8800 Systems are currently not available for use in the US.
The fully automated cobas 6800 and 8800 Systems have been developed for blood donor screening, viral load monitoring, women’s health and microbiology testing.
Image: The administration and R&D buildings, Roche Diagnostics Ltd, Rotkreuz. Photo: courtesy of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.