Roche has secured CE mark approval for the use of saliva samples with the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative test on the company’s high-throughput cobas 6800/8800 Systems.
The non-invasive test is suitable for any individual, including those suspected of Covid-19 and those without symptoms.
With the instructions from a healthcare professional, the patients will be able to self-collect their saliva sample on site using the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative test, helping to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus for healthcare professionals.
Designed for use on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems, the cobas SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative test is a real-time RT-PCR test that enables the qualitative identification of nucleic acids from SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare provider-instructed self-collected anterior nasal swab and saliva specimens.
It is also used for healthcare provider-collected nasal, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal swab specimens collected from any individuals, including those suspected of Covid-19 and those without symptoms or other reasons to suspect Covid-19.
Roche Diagnostics Solutions molecular labs head Cindy Perettie said: “One of the key strategies to reduce Covid-19 transmission is to stop the silent spread of the disease early.
“Expanding sensitive testing to include a non-invasive, easy-to-collect sample type such as saliva helps to improve access to screening for more people. This is crucial for public health and keeping our communities safe.”
Roche offers a range of testing options such as nasal, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal swabs, in addition to saliva for the precise of detection of SARS-CoV-2.
Recently, Roche, along with its subsidiary TIB Molbiol, has developed three new Research Use Only (RUO) test kits for the detection of mutations in new Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).
