Roche Introduces New cobas p 630 Instrument and AMPLILINK 3.3 Series Software With CE Mark

Posted on: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:30:00 EDT


Symbols: RHHBY
PLEASANTON, California, Oct 28, 2009 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) --
RHHBY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- New pre-analytical solution that integrates automated primary tube
handling

Roche Molecular Diagnostics (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced today
the availability of the cobas p 630 Instrument with CE Mark and the AMPLILINK
3.3 Series Software. The cobas p 630 Instrument and the AMPLILINK 3.3 Series
Software is intended for the EU and countries outside the United States that
accept products with the CE Mark. With this introduction, Roche has the only
pre-analytical instrument that unites primary tube handling with fully
automated sample preparation, amplification and detection for molecular
diagnostics. The AMPLILINK 3.3 Series Software is the latest version of the
widely adopted software that integrates the cobas p 630 Instrument with the
market leading COBAS(R) AmpliPrep Instruments and COBAS(R) TaqMan(R)
Analyzers.

Jeff Heimburger, International Business Leader of Virology at Roche
Molecular Diagnostics said, "The complete system provides our customers in
the EU and countries outside the US that accept CE Marked products with a
flexible and integrated solution with automated pre-analytics and real-time
PCR diagnostic testing for a broad menu of important molecular tests (HIV,
HCV, and HBV)."

The cobas p 630 Instrument provides a state-of-the art, automated
pre-analytical solution for primary tube handling and features full sample
traceability and process surveillance. These features effectively eliminate
manual steps, pipetting errors, and the associated risks of repetitive stress
injuries.

"We are excited by the addition of the cobas p 630 Instrument to our
portfolio. Combined with AMPLILINK 3.3 Series Software, the cobas p 630
Instrument specifically addresses the throughput needs of a key customer
segment while at the same time reduces hands-on time, a critical measure for
lab efficiency" said Neil Gunn, Head of Global Business at Roche Molecular
Diagnostics.

About the cobas p 630 Instrument and AMPLILINK 3.3 Series Software

The Roche cobas p 630 Instrument is an automated pre-analytical
instrument for primary tube handling. The automation features include:
de-capping and capping of the sample tube; pipetting Roche controls from
control tubes to sample tubes; pipetting samples from primary tubes to
multiple sample tubes. The cobas p 630 Instrument is compatible with a
variety of standard primary tubes. Bar-code tracking from primary tube to
result ensures full sample traceability. Maximum sample throughput is 154
samples per hour.

The AMPLILINK Software, a Windows(R)-based application, is designed to
deliver maximum flexibility, efficiency, and integrity to the laboratory's
workflow - from sample input through results output. AMPLILINK 3.3 Series
Software manages the operation of the connected COBAS(R) Instruments and
Analyzers. One AMPLILINK data station is capable of supporting up to 3
COBAS(R) AmpliPrep Instruments and 3 Analyzers (combination of COBAS(R)
AMPLICOR(R), COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) and COBAS(R) TaqMan(R) 48 Analyzers),
together with the cobas p 630 Instrument for pre-analytics.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in
research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and
diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly
differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and
CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based
cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalised
healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that
enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of
patients.

In 2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9
billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss
francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche
Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more
information: www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

For further information please contact:

Jessica Brillant
Roche Molecular Diagnostics
Pleasanton, CA

Office: +1-925-730-8503
Mobile: +1-925-980-0260
Jessica.brillant@roche.com

Rick Roose
Roche Molecular Diagnostics
Pleasanton, CA

Office: +1-925-730-8415
Mobile: +1-925-819-0609
Rick.roose@roche.com
Jessica Brillant, +1-925-730-8503, Mobile, +1-925-980-0260,
Jessica.brillant@roche.com; or Rick Roose, +1-925-730-8415, Mobile,
+1-925-819-0609, Rick.roose@roche.com, both of Roche Molecular Diagnostics

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