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The growing demand for sexual health testing
Sexually transmitted infections continue to pose a significant public health challenge, with more than 1 million curable STIs acquired every day worldwide.1 This growing burden is driving increased demand for sexual health testing and placing additional pressure on laboratories and healthcare systems. As healthcare providers work to improve access to care, reduce time to diagnosis and support positive patient outcomes, they must also balance increasing testing volumes, operational efficiency and evolving patient needs.
Building a legacy of diagnostic innovation
Diagnostics are often the first line of defence. For decades, Roche has helped advance sexual health diagnostics through innovation across STI testing. Roche helped develop one of the first HIV viral load tests in 1990.2,3 Today, it continues to support healthcare systems with diagnostic solutions that aid detection, monitoring and management, helping to improve patient outcomes, simplify diagnostic workflows and support healthcare providers in meeting evolving healthcare needs. Together, we are enabling confident decision-making and high-quality care across the sexual health pathway.
Comprehensive sexual health solutions
Roche’s integrated diagnostic ecosystem supports better sexual health outcomes by delivering fast, accurate results across a comprehensive sexual health testing portfolio.4 Our flexible molecular and immunoassay platforms help streamline workflows and reduce manual steps in both molecular and core laboratories, while also extending into decentralised point of care settings for same-day results and treatment.5-9
Connected through a centralised digital backbone, these solutions support a complete diagnostic pathway for sexual health, helping laboratories and clinicians deliver efficient, high-quality care, regardless of the patient journey.10 In addition to our diagnostic portfolio, our Research Use Only (RUO) solutions empower laboratories with flexible tools for research and assay evaluation.
Broad sexual health assay menu
Our comprehensive assay menu covers the most common sexually transmitted infections, spanning molecular and immunology tests for use across point of care and laboratory settings.
Connected sexual health solutions across the care continuum
By utilizing fast near-patient and high-throughput laboratory based sexual health testing, you can create a tailored sexual health service to meet patient’s needs across the care continuum.
Point of care
Fast, accurate STI testing at the patient point of care
The cobas® liat system brings accessible sexual health testing closer to patients, delivering clinically validated results for Chlamydia (CT), Gonorrhoea (NG) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) in just 20 minutes.11, 12
Powered by gold-standard PCR technology, it provides laboratory-quality results at the point of care, strengthening diagnostic capabilities and supporting clinical confidence.5
Test while they wait. Treat before they leave.
Fast, actionable results at the point of care support diagnosis and appropriate treatment within the same appointment, streamlining patient journeys.13, 14
Benefits at a glance
Quick
Results in just 20 minutes to help inform on the appropriate management Fast results support actionable treatment decisions and reduce the need for patient follow up.5, 13
Confident
PCR-accurate to detect and differentiate STIs for effective diagnosis at the POC Gold standard PCR technology delivers the quality of centralized lab testing at the patient point of care.
Control
Timely POC STI testing with lab-quality control through centralised connectivity View test results remotely on demand- wherever and whenever needed - with navify® POC.
Molecular
Molecular backbone of efficient sexual health diagnostics 6,7
Part of Roche’s integrated sexual health portfolio, the cobas® 5800/6800/8800 systems provide reliable, scalable gold-standard PCR testing to help laboratories stay ahead of rising testing demand. With streamlined sample-to-result automation and predictable throughput performance, the cobas® 5800/6800/8800 systems help laboratories maintain turnaround times and adapt to changing testing demands.
Flexible, efficient sexual health diagnostics6,7,16
Available across multiple throughput footprints, the cobas® 5800/6800/8800 systems combine a broad and growing assay menu with standardised technology, helping laboratories deliver consistent testing across diverse service settings.
Benefits at a glance6,7,16
Flexible
Adapt testing capacity to meet changing demand and maintain turnaround times at peak with scalable, low-to-high-throughput solutions.
Comprehensive
Support confident clinical decision-making and broaden testing capabilities with a comprehensive and continuously expanding portfolio of gold-standard PCR sexual health assays.
Automated
Streamline laboratory operations with automated sample-to-result processing, reducing hands-on time to as few as 3 user interactions per run and providing up to 4 hours of walk-away time.
Standardised
Maintain consistency across systems with shared assays, reagents, technology and user-friendly workflows.
Integrated
Unify laboratory workflows through connected systems, automation and digital solutions, integrating pre-analytics, sample tracking and diagnostics into a streamlined, low-touch testing pathway.
Supporting sexual health diagnostics at scale6,7,15
Our cobas® 5800/6800/8800 systems help laboratories support sexual health pathways through scalable diagnostics and connected workflows. Designed to integrate with pre-analytical, laboratory and digital solutions, they enable efficient, standardised testing across healthcare networks. By supporting timely access to high-quality diagnostic information, laboratories can help accelerate diagnosis, inform treatment decisions and respond confidently to evolving sexual health testing needs.
Core lab
Integrated, customisable sexual health diagnostic solutions
The cobas® pro integrated and cobas® pure integrated solutions support comprehensive serology testing to help laboratories meet the evolving demands of the sexual health landscape. Designed for simplicity, scalability and operational efficiency, they combine clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing in a streamlined platform, helping laboratories optimise resources, maximise productivity and expand STI diagnostic services with confidence.8,9
Streamline early detection8,9
With a comprehensive and growing serology menu available, the cobas® pro and cobas® pure integrated solutions provide the flexibility to support diverse testing needs.
Benefits at a glance
Consolidated serology menu
Consolidate serological sexual health testing on a single platform with a broad assay menu that expands testing capabilities, supports paired screening in antenatal and high-risk settings and optimises laboratory resources.8, 9, 17
Short & predictable turnaround times
Boost efficiency with fast analytical units, intelligent sample routing, and short incubation times to meet your turnaround time targets.8, 9
Standardisation & integration
Support consistent and efficient workflows with standardised technologies, shared reagents and seamless integration.8, 9
Comprehensive detection
Enable earlier identification of treatment failure and more informed care decisions, helping reduce disease progression, transmission and unnecessary follow-up.8, 9, 18, 19
Reliable performance
Streamline daily lab operations with automated maintenance and calibration, and ready-to-use reagents. Maintain testing continuity with proven uptime, fewer workflow interruptions and consistent performance across your sites.8, 9
Consolidate serological testing
Supporting sexual health pathways, the cobas® pro and cobas® pure integrated solutions help laboratories streamline routine operations through intelligent automation, standardised technologies and connected workflows. Designed to reduce manual intervention and simplify day-to-day testing, they help laboratories maintain consistent performance while adapting to the growing sexual health testing demands.8,9
Digital
Connecting care and control through navify® digital solutions10
navify® digital solutions securely integrate data across care settings, connecting the healthcare community and accelerating access to innovation and insights.
Benefits at a glance
Streamlined data integration
Integrate sexual health systems and workflows across point of care and laboratory settings to enhance efficiency, reduce errors and support consistent STI result management.
Insight driven sexual health management
Access actionable insights through tailored tools to support evidence-based decisions in diverse care settings.
Predictability & value
Digital and AI-driven tools help optimize sexual health testing resources, improve efficiency and supporting sustainable service as testing demand rises.
Related content
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® liat system
The cobas® liat system is compact, user-friendly and delivers fast, accurate results by the time your patient's appointment ends.
The cobas® liat system is compact, user-friendly and delivers fast, accurate results by the time your patient's appointment ends.
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® 5800 system
The cobas® 5800 system makes automation, consolidation, integration, and standardization more accessible than ever before.
The cobas® 5800 system makes automation, consolidation, integration, and standardization more accessible than ever before.
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® 6800 system
The cobas® 6800 System combine the functionalities of instrumentation, consumables, reagents, and data management to provide an efficient workflow from sample processing to result interpretation.
The cobas® 6800 System combine the functionalities of instrumentation, consumables, reagents, and data management to provide an efficient workflow from sample processing to result interpretation.
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® 8800 system
The cobas® 8800 system offers fast time to results with the highest throughput and one of the longest walk-away times available among automated molecular platforms.
The cobas® 8800 system offers fast time to results with the highest throughput and one of the longest walk-away times available among automated molecular platforms.
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® pro integrated solutions
Experience an unprecedented level of simplicity with cobas® pro integrated solutions, a scalable and modular solution to achieve your mid to high-volume clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing needs.
Experience an unprecedented level of simplicity with cobas® pro integrated solutions, a scalable and modular solution to achieve your mid to high-volume clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing needs.
IVD
For in vitro diagnostic use.
cobas® pure integrated solutions
The cobas® pure integrated solutions combines clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and ion selective electrode (ISE) testing on a footprint of just 2 square meters, giving access to our broad menu of more than 215 parameters—including many high medical value assays to labs that have to deal with limited space.
The cobas® pure integrated solutions combines clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and ion selective electrode (ISE) testing on a footprint of just 2 square meters, giving access to our broad menu of more than 215 parameters—including many high medical value assays to labs that have to deal with limited space.
...
Contact us
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References
- World Health Organization (2025) Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis) (Accessed: August 2025).
- National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP). Access programs to viral load testing from Chiron and Roche. Available at: National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project. Accessed July 2026.
- Roche Diagnostics. Sexual health and Sexually Transmitted Infections [Internet; cited 2026 Jul 24]. Available from: https://diagnostics.roche.com/gb/en/products/product-category/health-topic/infectious-diseases/sexual-health.html
- Roche Diagnostics (2025) Integrated solutions for a more efficient, future-ready laboratory. Available at: https://diagnostics.roche.com/gb/en/article-listing/building-an-integrated-laboratory.html (Accessed: August 2025).
- cobas® liat System User Guide1.4, User Guide (v12.1), 2025-02.
- cobas® 5800 System SW ,1.0 User Guide (v1.0), 2025-02.
- cobas® 6800/8800 Systems 1.4, User Guide, (v5.3), 2025-09
- cobas® pro integrated solutions User Guide (v4.1), Software version 03-02, 2024.
- cobas® pure integrated solutions, User Guide (v2.3). 2024.
- Roche Inc. navify® digital solutions [Internet; cited 2026 Mar]. Available from: https://navify.roche.com/us/en-us
- 10147563190-01EN – cobas® liat CT/NG/MG nucleic acid test–CE-IVD.
- 10147580190-01EN – cobas® liat CT/NG nucleic acid test–CE-IVD.
- Van Der Pol B. et al (2025). Sensitivity and specificity of the Cobas Liat CT/NG/MG nucleic acid test in a clinical laboratory setting and -of-care location. J Clin Microbiol63:e00706-25. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00706-25
- Feltes, A PharmD, et al. Impact of point-of-care gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing in the emergency department on reducing overtreatment rates. (2024) The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 83, 64-68.
- Jensen, Jorgen S., and Magnus Unemo. “Antimicrobial Treatment and Resistance in Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 20 Mar. 2024.
- Marlowe, E.M. et al. (2017) ‘High-throughput testing of urogenital and extragenital specimens for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae with cobas® CT/NG’, European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology, 7(3), 176–186. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29034107/
- Wynn A, et al. Bridging the Gap Between Pilot and Scale-Up: A Model of Antenatal Testing for Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections From Botswana. Sex Transm Dis. 2022 Jan 1;49(1):59-66.
- World Health Organization. CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES ON HIV PREVENTION, TESTING, TREATMENT, SERVICE DELIVERY AND MONITORING: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH [Internet; cited 2026 Mar]. Available from: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/a4c03ed9-5446-4958a26f-10e505c2679c/content.
- Shelton EM, et al. Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy during Primary HIV Infection: Effects on the Latent HIV Reservoir, Including on Analytic Treatment Interruptions. AIDS Rev. 2020 Oct 26;23(1):28-39.
