Syndromic testing

True sample-to-answer solution for high-risk patients.


Two lab technicians face a large screen and access the urgent syndromic testing menu on the cobas eplex system

The value of syndromic testing: The more you detect, the better you protect

Syndromic and point-of-care molecular diagnostic testing methods have transformed the landscape of infectious disease diagnostics. These methods enable rapid and simultaneous identification of multiple pathogens and drug resistance mechanisms directly from clinical specimens and positive blood cultures, streamlining the diagnostic process and offering benefits in clinical value and laboratory efficiency.1,2

Clinical value:

  • Comprehensive diagnosis: Syndromic panels detect pathogens that cause overlapping signs and symptoms, providing critical care management information when there is not enough data to determine what specific pathogens to test for.
  • Accurate and fast results: Multiplex PCR testing enables timely decision making compared to conventional testing methods, which can help achieve improved patient outcomes.2
  • Antimicrobial stewardship: Syndromic testing can promote more targeted microbial treatment,3 reducing potential adverse events from the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and supporting global efforts in antimicrobial stewardship.1,2,4

Laboratory efficiency:

  • Reduced hands-on time and operator errors: The simultaneous generation of multiple results in a single test reduces operator hands-on time and the potential introduction of manual errors compared with conventional diagnostic methods.2
  • Elimination of unnecessary tests: Syndromic testing can help laboratories reduce unnecessary additional or reflex tests, improving overall efficiency and reducing the workload and resource consumption in the lab.

Roche is committed to the continued improvement of patient care using syndromic testing. Our syndromic testing solutions, featuring the cobas® eplex system, are designed to ensure that healthcare providers and their patients have the best opportunity of receiving a fast, reliable, and actionable result.

Featured products

The cobas® eplex respiratory pathogen panel 2 (RP2 Panel) is a multiplexed nucleic acid in vitro diagnostic test intended for use on the cobas® eplex Instrument for the simultaneous qualitative detection and differentiation of nucleic acids from multiple respiratory viral and bacterial organisms, including nucleic acid from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) eluted in viral transport media obtained from individuals suspected of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19 by their healthcare provider. Clinical signs and symptoms of respiratory viral infection due to SARS-CoV-2 and the targeted respiratory viral and bacterial organisms can be similar. Testing is limited to laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. § 263a, that meet requirements to perform moderate or high complexity tests. The cobas® eplex RP2 panel is intended for the detection and differentiation of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 and the following virus types, subtypes, and bacteria: adenovirus, coronavirus (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43), SARS-CoV-2, human metapneumovirus, human rhinovirus/enterovirus, influenza A, influenza A H1, influenza A H1-2009, influenza A H3, influenza B, parainfluenza virus 1, parainfluenza virus 2, parainfluenza virus 3, parainfluenza virus 4, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) B, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. SARS-CoV-2 RNA and nucleic acids from the other respiratory viral and bacterial organisms identified by this test are generally detectable in NPS specimens during the acute phase of infection. The detection and identification of specific viral and bacterial nucleic acids from individuals exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of respiratory infection aids in the diagnosis of respiratory infection when used in conjunction with other clinical and epidemiological information. The results of this test should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other patient management decisions. Positive results are indicative of active infection with the identified respiratory pathogen but do not rule out infection or co-infection with non-panel organisms. The agent detected by the cobas® eplex RP2 panel may not be the definitive cause of disease. Negative results for SARS-CoV-2 and other organisms on the cobas® eplex RP2 panel may be due to infection with pathogens that are not detected by this test, or lower respiratory tract infection that may not be detected by a nasopharyngeal swab specimen. Negative results do not preclude infection with SARS-CoV-2 or other organisms on the cobas® eplex RP2 panel and should not be used as the sole basis for patient management decisions. Negative results must be combined with clinical observations, patient history, and epidemiological information. Negative results for other organisms detected by the test may require additional laboratory testing (e.g., bacterial and viral culture, immunofluorescence and radiography) when evaluating a patient with possible respiratory tract infection. The cobas® eplex RP2 panel is intended for use by qualified clinical laboratory personnel specifically instructed and trained in performing testing on the cobas® eplex system and in vitro diagnostic procedures. The cobas® eplex RP2 panel is only for use under the Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization.
The cobas eplex Blood Culture Identification Fungal Pathogen (BCID-FP) Panel is a qualitative nucleic acid multiplex in vitro diagnostic test intended for use on cobas eplex Instrument for simultaneous detection and identification of multiple potentially pathogenic fungal organisms in positive blood culture. The cobas eplex BCID-FP Panel is performed directly on blood culture samples identified as positive by a continuous monitoring blood culture system and which contain fungal organism.The following fungal organisms are identified using the cobas eplex BCID-FP Panel: Candida albicans, Candida auris, Candida dubliniensis, Candida famata, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus gattii, Cryptococcus neoformans, Fusarium and Rhodotorula.The detection and identification of specific fungal nucleic acids from individuals exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of bloodstream infection aids in the diagnosis of bloodstream infection when used in conjunction with other clinical information. The results from the cobas eplex BCID-FP Panel are intended to be interpreted in conjunction with Gram stain results and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other patient management decisions.Negative results in the setting of a suspected bloodstream infection may be due to infection with pathogens that are not detected by this test. Positive results do not rule out co-infection with other organisms; the organism(s) detected by the cobas eplex BCID-FP Panel may not be the definite cause of disease. Additional laboratory testing (e.g. sub-culturing of positive blood cultures for identification of organisms not detected by cobas eplex BCID-FP Panel, susceptibility testing and differentiation of mixed growth) and clinical presentation must be taken into consideration in the final diagnosis of bloodstream infection.

Benefits of syndromic testing solutions from Roche

Optimization

Designed for the patient, optimized for the lab

While many systems claim sample-to-answer capabilities, only the cobas eplex system integrates the entire process from order-to-report to better realize the patient and laboratory benefits of rapid, multiplex molecular diagnostics for syndromic testing.

The cobas eplex system offers many unique solutions that were thoughtfully engineered to address the biggest challenges you face in the clinical laboratory and to support hospital systems in delivering patient-centered, value-based care.

Reduce errors

Designed for the patient: reduce avoidable medical errors

Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., equating to more than 250,000 deaths per year.5 Automating information transfer has been shown to be effective in reducing many common errors, including patient identity checking and order transcription.6

The cobas eplex system is uniquely designed with patient safety features in mind so that labs and physicians are confident they have the right patient, with the right test, and the right result, every time.

  • Reduce the chance of pre-analytical errors with < 1 minute hands-on time and guided workflows
  • Transcription errors can be eliminated in both order entry and result reporting with bi-directional laboratory information system (LIS)
Efficiency

Optimized for the lab: maximize lab efficiency by reducing administrative overhead

Monitoring and reporting quality control (QC) testing is both a requirement and a best practice to ensure accuracy of patient results and compliance with lab standards. With built-in QC tracking capabilities and safeguards, you can effortlessly run controls as needed, as well as easily track and report compliance.

In addition to automated QC tracking, the cobas eplex system provides the following compliance and data management tools:

  • Integrated data analytics to easily monitor lab performance
  • On-demand epidemiology reports for export and simplified analysis
  • Fully configurable, auto-release of test results

These unique capabilities allow you to reduce the time spent on routine administrative tasks and focus your limited resources on high-value activities that impact patient care and the bottom line.

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References

  1. Relich RF & Abbott AN. Syndromic and point-of-care molecular testing. Advances in Molecular Pathology. 2018;1:97–113.
  2. Dumkow LE, et al. Syndromic diagnostic testing: a new way to approach patient care in the treatment of infectious diseases. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2021; 76(Suppl 3):iii4-iii11.
  3. Markussen DL, et al. Diagnostic stewardship in community-acquired pneumonia with syndromic molecular testing: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7:e240830.
  4. World Health Organization. Antimicrobial resistance: Fact sheet [Internet; cited April 2025]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.
  5. Makary MA, Daniel M. Medical error-the third leading cause of death in the US. BMJ. 2016 May 3;353:i2139. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2139. PMID: 27143499.
  6. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. To err is human: Building a safer health system [Internet; cited April 2025]. Available from: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/9728/chapter/4.