Roche Launches Next-Generation Duplex Test for Parvovirus B19 and Hepatitis A

Roche has announced the commercial availability of the cobas® DPX test for use on the cobas® 6800/8800 Systems—expanding the menu of the newest molecular diagnostic platforms from Roche with next generation donor screening assays.

The cobas® DPX test is a real-time PCR duplex assay for parvovirus B19 (B19V) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in human plasma. Using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) to detect these viral targets is an important step in ensuring the safety of blood and plasma products.

“Roche is committed to providing the broadest coverage and most efficient blood and plasma screening tests to ensure the highest safety for patients,” said Paul Brown, Head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics. “Introducing cobas® DPX to the cobas® 6800/8800 Systems is an important step toward that goal, complementing our current donor screening tests for the detection of HIV, HCV, HBV, WNV and HEV.”

By utilizing cobas® DPX, blood and plasma testing centers are able to quickly identify and remove HAV-contaminated units, while simultaneously minimizing the B19V burden in plasma pools. Performing NAT with the cobas® DPX test enables testing facilities to increase the processing efficiency of donations while preserving high safety standards for plasma products used in transfusions and other therapeutic treatments for patients.

The cobas® DPX assay and the cobas® 6800/8800 Systems are commercially available in markets that recognize CE-Mark and are not currently available in the United States.