Article

Clinical mass spectrometry at South West London Pathology

Published on September 7, 2026 | 5 min read

As the first NHS site in the UK to implement the cobas® Mass Spec solution, SWLP has established a model for modernising clinical biochemistry. By introducing fully automated, IVD-compliant mass spectrometry into routine core lab operations, the trust has bridged the gap between high-sensitivity analytical testing and high-volume diagnostic efficiency, setting a benchmark for pathology networks nationwide.

A significant step forward in mass spectrometry

South West London Pathology (SWLP), an NHS partnership anchored at St George’s Hospital serving over 1.8 million people across five hospital sites, has modernised its specialised clinical biochemistry service. Seeking to expand beyond legacy, research-based mass spectrometry platforms that relied on heavy manual sample preparation and long batching cycles, SWLP partnered with Roche Diagnostics to add the fully automated cobas® i 601 analyser to its testing fleet. Installed late last 2025 at the St George's hub, the platform combines high-sensitivity mass spectrometry with fully automated core lab efficiency, marking a significant step forward in high-volume NHS diagnostic testing.

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SWLP Overview Film

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Workflow efficiency

Historically, mass spectrometry testing at St George’s relied on traditional LC-MS/MS platforms that presented operational constraints. Lab teams spent considerable time manually retrieving samples, preparing reagents, and manually reviewing and transcribing results.

SWLP selected the cobas® i 601 analyser to resolve these operational constraints and optimise laboratory output.

Operating like any standard clinical chemistry analyser, the platform delivers full automation. With a broad menu of standardised, IVD-compliant assays, the need for Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) is reduced. This will enable SWLP to rapidly expand its future testing menu and bring specialised assays back in-house, as well as freeing up critical time for the team to develop specialised assays on their manual systems

By replacing batched workflows with high-throughput random-access processing, the platform delivers fast and predictable turnaround times (such as generating steroid results in 30 minutes), and ensures every sample is processed in real-time. This will help SWLP to establish a more resilient, scalable diagnostic service.

What’s exciting about it is the workflow. It's completely different to traditional mass spectrometry. It’s just like an analyser you front load it and it does the work for you. That was the real attraction.

Jamie Laughlin

Director of Operations at South West London Pathology

SWLP Workflow Efficiency

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Benefits at a glance

Full automation—saving hands-on time

A total automated solution from sample preparation to result interpretation saving hands-on time for your operators.

Convenient and continuous sample loading
Random access processing: No waiting, sorting, or re-engineering required
Automated sample preparation from biological sample to purified analyte
Automated analyte separation: Automatic onboard mixing with 8 system reagents onboard and 8 channels of LC columns with efficient automated cleaning
Automated detection and quantification of analytes: Triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with electrospray ionisation (ESI) technology
Automated result validation and reporting: Data processing, analyte quantification, result validation, reporting, and flagging

Seamless integration—improving productivity

Fully integrated* into routine clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing, as well as laboratory automation, this solution enhances productivity in your lab.

Designed to meet your laboratory’s needs, the cobas i 601 analyser is part of cobas pro integrated solutions and will work in combination* with cobas® ISE neo, cobas® c 503, and cobas® e 801 analytical units. It is also designed to integrate into pre- and post-analytics and IT solutions.

*At launch, cobas i 601 analyser is available in a single configuration <cobas pro SSU | i 601>. All other configurations will be available at a later date.

High throughput—delivering fast turnaround times

The cobas i 601 analyser has a high throughput with up to 100 injections per hour to fit the needs of your routine laboratory. This is made possible through its design features focused on automation, helping you deliver faster and more predictable turnaround times.

Broad assay menu—consolidating into one system

cobas i 601 analyser offers a broad in vitro diagnostics menu of Ionify® reagents with more than 60 assays under development in the area of steroids, vitamin D, therapeutic drug monitoring, as well as drugs of abuse testing. They will be consolidated into multi-analyte, RFID-labelled reagent cassettes, which can be easily loaded and automatically registered into the system with 48 reagent channels.

Change management

To support the transition, Roche delivered a structured, pre-implementation change management programme involving staff across all operational bandings.

Pre-Implementation engagement: Before installation, off-site workshops and group kick-off meetings were held to align team goals, address operational shifts, and build widespread engagement.
Inclusive training: Three-day training sessions catered to both experienced cobas® users and staff with no prior automated platform background. The familiar interface allowed staff across experience levels (including Band 6 biomedical scientists and support workers) to quickly master the system.
Optimised integration: Through smart layout planning and targeted site works, the team comfortably integrated the analyser into the existing laboratory space, ensuring a smooth rollout with zero project delays.

The implementation has gone very well, significantly better than previous projects.

Tiago Sousa

Technical Lead, Special Biochemistry at South West London Pathology

SWLP Change Management

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Impact so far:

The implementationof the cobas® Mass Spec solution aims to support enhanced daily operations and help deliver key clinical and operational benefits across the network:

Reduced manual workload

Removing manual sample preparation, reagent handling, and result transcription is designed to help minimise human error and free up staff time to allow them focus on projects where they can add more value.

Specialist capacity unlocked

Automating routine assays on the cobas® i 601 analyser gives senior specialists the capacity to focus on developing complex specialised assays on manual LC-MS/MS platforms.

Commercial and financial potential

Consolidating routine testing onto a single automated platform can help demonstrate a return on investment (ROI) by bringing outsourced tests back in-house and generating capacity to process external referral work for neighboring trusts.

Automating routine testing gives our team the capacity to focus on specialised assay development on our manual systems.

Tiago Sousa

Technical Lead, Special Biochemistry at South West London Pathology

Next steps:

Looking ahead, SWLP plans to scale its operational footprint. The network intends to expand its testing menu on the cobas® i 601 analyser to help bring tests in-house that are currently sent to external reference laboratories.

Expanding regional provision: SWLP plans to offer high-throughput mass spectrometry services to other NHS trusts and private providers across London and the South of England.
Widening diagnostic access: The high analytical capacity of the platform allows SWLP to widen overall access to mass spectrometry testing, providing capacity to repatriate additional tests as the assay menu expands.

Read the full case study

Download the case study to learn more about the implementation of the cobas Mass Spec solution at SWLP

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cobas^® i 601 analyzer

cobas® i 601 analyser is a total solution from sample preparation to result interpretation for clinical mass spec testing, transforming reference into routine.

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