Aga Khan Hospital adopts Roche’s total lab automation system

KENYA – Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi has made history as the first in East Africa to implement Roche Diagnostics’ Total Lab Automation (TLA) system, marking a major step forward for medical diagnostics in the region.

This new technology brings faster, more accurate, and more consistent lab test results, supporting better patient care and more efficient hospital workflows.

Developed by Roche Diagnostics, the TLA system fully automates the entire laboratory process—from receiving and sorting samples to analysis and safe archiving.

The system connects multiple analyzers on a single track, reducing manual handling and improving speed and reliability.

This upgrade is especially timely, as labs across the region face increasing demand, staff shortages, and the need to respond quickly to both routine and emergency cases.

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to improving healthcare systems across East Africa,” said Taofik Oloruko-Oba, Roche Diagnostics’ Country Manager for Kenya and Head of the East Africa Network.

“Reliable test results are the bedrock of effective treatment, and this technology delivers them at scale.”

Prof. Shahin Sayed, Chair of the hospital’s Pathology Department, emphasized the positive impact of full automation on clinical care.

“This system will support clinicians with faster results, fewer errors, and continuous lab operations. That means better accuracy, timely decisions, and ultimately, improved patient outcomes,” she said.

One of the standout features of the system is its integration with Roche’s Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) tools.

These use real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology to detect infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C even in their early stages.

NAT is incorporated into both the pre- and post-analytic phases, ensuring high throughput and faster test results, crucial for patient safety and effective donor screening.

The system supports testing across a wide range of health concerns, including heart disease, cancer, infectious illnesses, autoimmune conditions, and childhood diseases.

Its flexibility makes it a valuable tool not only for everyday diagnostics but also for managing public health emergencies.

Roche’s support doesn’t end with installation. The company provides continuous training, technical assistance, preventive maintenance, and coordinated planning for product delivery. This ensures that the system runs smoothly and delivers consistent benefits over time.

While patients may never see the TLA system in action, its presence is felt through quicker diagnoses, fewer repeat tests, safer sample handling, and better management of long-term health conditions.

The automation enhances trust in test results, reduces turnaround times, and helps healthcare teams make faster, life-saving decisions.

This milestone reflects Roche’s broader vision for Africa. Through its 10-Year Diagnostics Strategy, the company aims to expand access to in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) across the continent, ensuring that more communities can benefit from advanced healthcare technologies.