Roche Diagnostics India has highlighted its commitment to enabling access to reliable diagnostic solutions in India. Given the growing need to manage respiratory failure, Roche’s Elecsys IL-6 test measures levels of the biomarker interleukin 6 (IL-6) in human body and can be used to help identify patients who could be at high risk of development of severe respiratory illness.

The test can support physicians, in combination with other examinations and vital signs, to decide early on about treatment management for severe respiratory illness. The levels of IL-6 also helps identify patients who might be at high risk of disease progression.

Dr. Sandeep Sewlikar, Medical and Scientific Affairs Head, Roche Diagnostics India, said, “Roche Diagnostics India has been proactively working on addressing the country’s diagnostics need across a whole range of diseases and conditions. Responding to the need to address patient management relating to increasing cases of respiratory distress, I believe that our IL-6 biomarker plays the role of early indicator for acute inflammation in the management of critically ill patients.”

Hospitals and laboratories can run the Elecsys IL-6 test on Roche’s cobas e analysers which are available in around 500 cities across India. These fully automated systems can provide test results in approximately 18 minutes, with a test throughput of up to 300 tests/hour, depending on the analyser.

Dr. V Ramasubramanian, Infectious Diseases Specialist, Apollo Hospitals Chennai said, “Despite a high recovery and a low mortality rate, the number of cases in India is on a steady rise. With an already burdened public healthcare system, it is imperative to evaluate solutions that can facilitate timely treatment to critically ill patients. The IL-6 levels can help in tracking patients with a high risk of forthcoming respiratory failure. An IL-6 testing strategy will help facilitate early detection and timely treatment initiation.”