Roche provides molecular testing equipment to combat Ebola in DRC

Roche Diagnostics has supplied two molecular testing instruments to the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) to bolster Ebola testing capacity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative aims to address a shortage in laboratory capacity as demand for testing exceeds current local resources during an outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

Roche will preconfigure LightCycler and MagNA Pure instruments and provide training for local laboratory technicians before the equipment is deployed to Bunia for validation testing. Following the successful local validation of the Research Use Only molecular PCR tests, Roche anticipates deploying additional instruments and expediting the delivery of more test kits to support the disease response effort.