A Medical Device Daily

Premier (San Diego) said it has given its 1,700 hospital members access in August to the Cobas Ampliprep TaqMan HIV-1 assay — the only real-time PCR test for HIV offered to its members — from diagnostic powerhouse Roche (Basel, Switzerland).

Premier said that the new HIV-1 monitoring test, Cobas TaqMan 48 Analyzer and Cobas TaqMan Analyzer to its existing three-year molecular contract so that customers could combine the Cobas Ampliprep, which was included in the existing molecular contract, with the Cobas TaqMan and the docking station to experience full automation.

“Adding the Roche HIV-1 monitoring test to Premier’s menu is consistent with our mission to quickly roll out the highest level of innovation to our customers,” said John Biggers, group VP of sourcing at Premier. “Premier also added Cobas Taqman 48 Analyzer, Cobas Taqman Analyzer and Roche’s unique docking station so that customers could take advantage of the test’s full automation while offering to their patients the most advanced HIV-1 monitoring assay based on 11 years of experience in HIV monitoring.”

Roche said it introduced the automated Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas TaqMan in response to the need needs for a system that enables molecular laboratory technicians to load samples and walk away, not returning until the sample results are ready.

“Molecular technicians are in high demand,” said Susan Zienowicz, VP for molecular diagnostics of Roche. “In creating the Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 assay, we provide labs with another strategy to help them leverage their employees’ time and get more done in the lab.”

Premier serves 1,700 hospitals and more than 47,000 other healthcare sites.