ePlex® system: fast, comprehensive and patient-centred diagnostics
The Roche ePlex® system, developed by GenMark Diagnostics, is an in vitro diagnostic solution designed to meet the current needs of clinical laboratories. The system integrates seamlessly into a patient-centred hospital environment, ensuring a smooth transition from medical order to final report. With a fully automated sample-to-answer approach, it simplifies workflow, optimises human and technical resources, and guarantees reliable and actionable results.
One of the great advantages of ePlex® is its modular and scalable design. Depending on the laboratory's needs, the system can be configured with between 3 and 24 test bays. This flexibility allows the processing capacity to be adapted to seasonal peaks or changes in analysis volumes. Whether with a single tower configuration or a four-tower architecture, the system can process 36 to 288 samples in 24 hours while maintaining a high level of performance.
The ePlex® also stands out thanks to its bi-directional integration with laboratory information systems (LIS). This interconnection significantly reduces transcription errors and improves the traceability of results, thereby enhancing patient safety. At the same time, the system limits handling time thanks to its continuous random access operation, allowing samples to be loaded and processed in real time without interrupting the process.
From a quality control perspective, ePlex® is equipped with features such as automated quality control monitoring and on-board recording of QC test data. These features ensure that control procedures are performed in a timely manner and that the laboratory can easily meet regulatory requirements.
Clinically, the system offers multiplex detection panels covering a wide range of pathogens. Available panels include the Respiratory Pathogen Panel 2 (RP2), which includes SARS-CoV-2, as well as blood culture identification panels (Gram-positive, Gram-negative, fungal pathogens). These panels enable rapid and comprehensive diagnosis of the most common infections, with a direct impact on patient care: reduced hospital stays, improved treatment targeting, and contribution to the fight against antibiotic resistance.
The ePlex® system also allows predefined comments to be integrated into results reports, facilitating interdisciplinary communication and promoting the immediate implementation of appropriate clinical decisions.
