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BACKGROUND: The cobas c 111, a new low volume bench-top analyzer from Roche Diagnostics (Indianapolis, IN), was evaluated to determine whether the operational and performance characteristics of the system would make it a good fit for the physicians’ office laboratories and hospital stat labs in the Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) network. METHODS: Twenty-five frequently ordered analytes were evaluated relative to the published specifications of the cobas c 111. Additionally correlation studies, using patient serum samples, were used to determine inter-instrument comparability between 2 cobas c 111 instruments and accuracy relative to the standardized assays at LabCorp. RESULTS: Precision, linearity, method comparison to another large Roche system, inter-instrument comparability, potential carryover, and time to result studies met or exceeded expectations. Additionally, sigma metrics analyses graded the overall performance of this analyzer as world class. CONCLUSIONS: The analytical performance, compact size, intuitive operation along with the expected low maintenance and reliability make the cobas c 111 a good fit for the intended small laboratory niche environment at LabCorp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]