Article
Respiratory Diagnostic Solutions
With nearly 30 years in respiratory research, we are focused on improving outcomes for patients with severe respiratory diseases.
Respiratory diseases cause as many as 1 in 10 deaths in some areas of Europe and continue to pose a variety of medical challenges1. Misdiagnosis can lead to mismanaged treatments, straining an already overwhelmed healthcare system and minimising treatment success. With advanced, innovative equipment, reliable and timely results, Roche can help ensure efficient and targeted treatments for your patients.
Common respiratory conditions
Someone dies of a respiratory illness every eight minutes in England according to Public Health England2. Respiratory illnesses affect the functionality of the lungs, with tens of millions of people worldwide diagnosed with a wide variety of conditions3. Common conditions include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), occupational lung disease and asthma which can act as a gateway to more severe illnesses such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which can dramatically reduce life quality and life expectancy.
Most respiratory diseases are defined as Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs). These can include upper tract infections such as the common cold, and lower tract infections which tend to be more severe, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis.
For the majority, upper tract infections resolve themselves with simple treatments, however, lower respiratory tract infections can pose significant health risks, especially for those in infancy, the immunocompromised, or elderly individuals4.
Hospital admissions for respiratory diseases have risen at three times the rate of all other admissions5
Recent events surrounding COVID-19 proved the importance of respiratory health, exhibiting how those with underlying respiratory conditions can be especially susceptible to serious illness. However, it is estimated that treatments and innovations in the respiratory field of medicine have not advanced for 10 years, especially when compared to conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases5.
Everyone deserves the right to breathe freely. Roche are aware of the challenge we face in tackling respiratory conditions. We are committed to pursuing new innovations in diagnosis, treatment and care. Through advanced diagnostic equipment, we can help relieve the pressure-induced workload brought about by these illnesses and help secure the most reliable and effective treatment courses.
Challenges in diagnosing repository conditions
A plethora of pathogens can be reasonable for the wide array of respiratory infections, making diagnosis especially difficult when differentiating between the non-specific clinical presentation of these pathogens.
With many deaths from respiratory illnesses preventable by timely and targeted treatment options, it is essential to identify the cause of respiratory infection with a punctual and precise diagnosis, meaning the appropriate therapy can commence6.
Difficulties in accessing a precise diagnosis for respiratory conditions can lead to medical professionals triggering empiric treatment, promoting the unnecessary and sometimes inappropriate prescription of antibiotics. This can drive natural immunity down and continues to develop problems in the impact of antibiotic medication and antimicrobial stewardship.
What solutions are available?
Roche understands the repercussions of inaccurate diagnosis for respiratory diseases. We know that to ensure minimal time-to-treatment from reliable testing, we must rely on something other than the method of culture collection.
Roche has pioneered designs in other methods for antibody and antigen detection. These have focused on Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques (NAAT), drastically improving sensitivity, accuracy, and detection time of pathogens relating to respiratory conditions. With fully automated, high-throughput systems delivering timely results, you can empower healthcare professionals to develop the most efficient and impactful treatment decisions.
The cobas® 6800 System supports the automated and integrated running of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) so you can access the detailed insight needed to gain a cohesive picture of respiratory diagnosis. With the cobas® Liat® System enabling rapid, accurate analysis of single samples and the ePlex® system enabling sample-to-answer solutions, Roche can streamline your diagnostic workflow like never before.