Microbiology has been aiding our centuries-long attempts to tackle the deleterious effects of microbes.
From hypothesising the existence of “something in the air causing diseases” to viewing and culturing microbes, linking them as causative agents for specific diseases, understanding their onset, progress and resistance – we have made great strides over the years.
With the advent of molecular testing, a new era of diagnosis with incredible speed and accuracy has begun.
Molecular diagnosis includes testing with automated molecular assays and systems in sophisticated centralised labs to accurately identify and quantitate pathogen concentration (molecular microbiology).
This allows for the rapid and accurate detection of pathogens from samples while patients are still waiting (molecular point of care [POC]).
Roche is at the forefront of bringing actionable clinical results and operational efficiency through technological innovation and leadership.
Roche facilitates the mission of tackling infectious diseases through a suite of molecular diagnostic systems and assays that aid in the detection of virulent pathogens and drug-resistant bacteria.
Own the future of molecular testing with systems that are automated and consolidated for operational efficiency and scalable.
The cobas® 4800 and cobas® 6800/8800 System provide transformative performance, automation, and flexibility for molecular testing.
The cobas® Liat® System is a fast, easy-to-use, compact PCR system designed for on-demand testing in POC settings.
A growing portfolio of assays, including cobas® Influenza A/B, cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV, cobas® Strep A, and cobas® Cdiff are available, and assays for other infectious diseases are in development.
Find the power of a lab in the palm of your hand with lab-quality results at the point of care.
The cobas® Liat® System is a fast, easy-to-use, compact PCR system designed for on-demand testing in POC settings.
A growing portfolio of assays, including cobas® Influenza A/B, cobas® Influenza A/B & RSV, cobas® Strep A, and cobas® Cdiff are available, and assays for other infectious diseases are in development.
Advances in molecular microbiological techniques facilitate the accurate diagnosis of several serious diseases, help to identify disease resistance and drive more prudent prescribing of antibiotics.
More than 1 million STIs are acquired every day worldwide.
The four major infections, Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis), Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), Syphilis (Treponema pallidum) and Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis), contribute to about 357 million new infections a year.1
With this global scenario, the need for accurately diagnosing sexual health is critical. Find out more about these infections and the available molecular and immunochemical assays to diagnose these STIs.
Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB, TB) is a global challenge resulting in 1.6 million deaths in 2017 alone.2
Greater than 1/3 of new people affected by TB are undiagnosed or detected but not reported, with drug resistance becoming a serious concern.
Learn more about MTB and the available molecular assays to detect MTB.
The overuse or misuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of bacterial superbugs that can be resistant to some forms of treatment.
Without meaningful change, antibiotic resistance is predicted to become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2050.3 Testing for infections before treatment would greatly help in minimising improper prescription of antibiotics.
References
1. World Health Organization website. Accessed 17th May 2019. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
2. Global tuberculosis report 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
3. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. “Tackling Drug-Resistant Infections Globally: Final Report and Recommendations.” May 2016, https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160525_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf (accessed September 25, 2017).
