Roche announced today the U.S. launch of the cobas® connection modules (CCM) Vertical, the elevator and overhead components of its fully automated and modular CCM system to help low-, mid- and high-volume laboratories optimize space, productivity and patient care.
According to Brad Moore, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America, the CCM Vertical is the only laboratory conveyor system in the U.S. that moves samples up and down without reducing overall track speed, throughput or turnaround times. He says the CCM system can help labs of all sizes increase testing capacity, accelerate results, overcome staffing shortages and reduce errors.
The CCM Vertical includes elevator units, overhead conveyors and overhead turn units that seamlessly integrate with Roche’s other CCM solutions. This cobas solution helps laboratorians simplify their lab operations by transporting patient samples hands-free in every direction – up, down, across and between rooms, around doorways, emergency exits and walkways, and through walls, ceilings and floors.
The first CCM Vertical implementation in the U.S. is scheduled to go live at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in early 2024.
This solution is one of the broader laboratory-automation offerings delivered by Roche that can be customized for low-, mid- and high-volume laboratories with the ability to facilitate on-site expansion as required. With this solution, pre- and post-analytical tasks are automated, offering efficiency through flexible standalone solutions.
The system reduces manual steps in the laboratory, enhancing error handling, safety and process quality. Additionally, it offers transportation — physically connecting different instruments allows for maximum predictability of time to test results.
The solution consists of the following main (modular) components:
- Elevator units (adjustable walk-through height of 1.87-2.24 meters)
- Overhead Conveyor units
- Overhead Turntable units
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines that has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics.
