Roche Diagnostics today announced the availability in the UK and Ireland of its new cobas® Anti-HCV assay, extending the already comprehensive range of cobas® infectious disease immunoassays.

cobas® Anti-HCV is one of the most rapid and sensitive screening assays available for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) [1], allowing infection to be diagnosed in the very early stages. In addition, cobas® Anti-HCV is accurate and reliable in the detection of different HCV genotypes, demonstrating 100% sensitivity in the detection of highly divergent strains in confirmed anti-HCV positive samples [1] and a clinical specificity of 99.71% [1].

"cobas® Anti-HCV is the latest assay to form part of our complete infectious disease serology solution for laboratory users, and demonstrates Roche's commitment to addressing customer needs in terms of laboratory efficiency and convenience", commented Malcolm Sheppard, Serology Development Manager.

The Roche complete serology solution for infectious diseases includes: cobas® HBsAg II for the enhanced recognition of hepatitis B Virus (HBV) variants and mutants; and cobas® HIV combi, the world's first automated HIV immunoassay for the combined detection of HIV antigen and antibodies, allowing early detection of HIV infection and reliable recognition of HIV variants.

In addition to the comprehensive selection of assays for hepatitis and HIV, the complete Roche serology solution also includes a wide range of TORCH assays (Toxo IgG and Toxo IgM used in the detection of Toxoplasma gondii; Rubella IgG and Rubella IgM) and Syphilis assays (TPLA IgG and IgM; RPR).

Roche serology assays are rapid, reliable and easy to use, offering flexibility for use on all Roche immunodiagnostic testing platforms and allowing laboratories of any size to offer a complete infectious disease diagnostic service.

For further information about the complete infectious disease serology package available from Roche Diagnostics, and to view the Roche Immunodiagnostic testing platforms available for low, mid and high workloads, visit the Roche Diagnostics website at www.roche-diagnostics.co.uk or ask your Roche Diagnostics representative for a copy of "The Complete Serology Solution" brochure.

References:
1. Data on file at Roche. Details on request.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, and is a market leader in virology. It is also active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory and metabolic disorders and diseases of the central nervous system. In 2007 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 36.8 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 9.3 billion francs. Roche has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D in 2007. Worldwide, the Group employs about 80,000 people. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.roche.com

Roche's Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. For further information, please visit our website at www.roche.com.