The Roche Cobas C501 Chemistry Analyzer, provided by Roche Diagnostics
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Refurbished Roche cobas c501 Chemistry Analyzer
The clinical chemistry module of the Roche cobas 6000, rebuilt Down-To-Frame® to original specification. You save up to 70% compared with buying new, and you can finance with $0 down.
The Roche cobas c501 runs up to 1,000 tests an hour, 600 photometric and 400 ISE, with 60 reagent cassette positions and sodium, potassium and chloride built in. Get it refurbished and make your budget stretch even further.
check_circleSave up to 70% compared with a new cobas c501, and lower the capital cost in every result you report.
check_circleKeep 63 tests on board: 60 photometric reagent cassettes plus 3 ISE channels.
check_circleRun routine chemistry, electrolytes, specific proteins, drugs and whole-blood HbA1c on one module.
check_circleAdd a cobas e 601 immunoassay module later and run chemistry and immunoassay from one sample line.
check_circleFinance up to $2 million with $0 down, and roll shipping into the payments.
check_circleEvery unit is rebuilt Down-To-Frame® by an FDA-registered, ISO 13485:2016 certified refurbisher, installed by our engineers and eligible for our service plans.
How the cobas c501 runs inside a cobas 6000
The c501 is the chemistry module of the cobas 6000 analyzer series. It sits beside a core unit that loads, routes and returns samples, and it can share that core unit with a second c501 or with cobas e 601 immunoassay modules.
Two measuring units in one module
speed600 photometric tests an hour. The photometric unit runs routine chemistry, specific proteins, drugs and HbA1c.
speed400 ISE tests an hour. The integrated ISE unit measures sodium, potassium and chloride in parallel, so electrolytes add capacity instead of taking it from photometry. Together, one c501 reaches up to 1,000 tests an hour.
biotechMetabolic panels on one module. Every test in a BMP or CMP runs on the c501 from one sample, with no second instrument and no aliquots.
Reagents that load while it runs
science60 reagent cassette positions. With the 3 ISE channels, 63 tests stay ready at once, enough for most mid-volume menus without swapping reagents between shifts.
scienceLoad cassettes on the fly. You add and remove reagent cassettes during operation, so a reagent running low doesn't stop the run.
check_circleAutomated cassette handling. The module registers, moves, places and disposes of cassettes itself, which removes manual steps and the errors that come with them.
scienceShared cobas c packs. The c501 uses the same reagent cassettes as Roche's other cobas chemistry analyzers, which keeps results comparable across a network.
Sample handling and result integrity
priority_high5-position racks on the core unit. The cobas 6000 core unit handles up to 600 samples an hour and routes STAT racks ahead of routine work.
biotech1 to 35 µL per test. Small sample volumes and 1.5 mL micro cups make room for pediatric and short samples.
check_circleSerum indices, clot and liquid level detection. The module checks lipemia, hemolysis and icterus and catches clots before they produce a bad result.
check_circleUltrasonic mixing. No stirrer touches the reaction, so there's no stirrer carryover to clean up.
check_circleAutomatic rerun and dilution. Out-of-range results rerun and dilute 3 to 121 times without a tech pulling the tube.
The cobas c501 test menu
Roche lists more than 130 assays and applications for the cobas c501, including the 3 ISE tests and 3 serum indices. Up to 60 photometric assays can sit on board at once.
Metabolic and electrolytesSodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, BUN, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, bicarbonate
Liver and pancreasALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin, total protein, ammonia, amylase, lipase
Cardiac and lipidsCK, CK-MB, LDH, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, hs-CRP, lipoprotein(a), apolipoproteins
KidneyCystatin C, urine and CSF protein, urine albumin
DiabetesWhole-blood HbA1c, fructosamine
Specific proteins and immunologyIgA, IgG, IgM, C3c, C4, ferritin, transferrin, haptoglobin, kappa and lambda light chains
Therapeutic drugsDigoxin, vancomycin, gentamicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, lithium
Drugs of abuseAmphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, methadone, ethanol
Assay availability varies by country. Send your menu with your quote request and we'll confirm what runs on the unit you're buying.
Cobas 6000 configurations with the c501
A cobas 6000 pairs one core unit with up to three analytical modules, no more than two of one type. The c501 fits these builds:
speedc501 alone. Chemistry and electrolytes at up to 1,000 tests an hour, for a lab that runs immunoassays elsewhere.
speedTwo c501 modules. Up to 2,000 tests an hour, and a second module that keeps chemistry running when the first is down for maintenance.
biotechc501 with one or two e 601 modules. Chemistry and immunoassays from one sample, one rack and one result set, at up to 2,170 tests an hour combined.
Starting with a c501 alone leaves room to add an immunoassay module later on the same core unit.
Planning your site for a cobas c501
handymanFloor space. The c501 module is about 120 cm (47 in) wide and 98 cm (39 in) deep, and the core unit adds about 69 cm (27 in) of width. A core unit with one c501 runs close to 190 cm (75 in) wide before service clearance.
engineeringFloor load. The c501 module weighs about 330 kg (730 lb). Check floor ratings along the delivery path and at the install spot.
electrical_servicesPower. 230 V or 110 V supply, with the c501 drawing up to 2.4 kVA.
water_dropWater and drain. The c501 needs a deionized water supply and a drain. Send us your water system details and we'll confirm it can keep up.
engineeringHeat. The c501 gives off up to 5,400 kJ an hour. Tell your facilities team before install so the room's HVAC can carry it.
Requirementcobas c501 modulecobas 6000 core unit
Width120 cm (47.2 in)69 cm (27.2 in)
Depth98 cm (38.6 in)104 cm (41 in)
WeightAbout 330 kg (730 lb)
Power230 V or 110 V AC; 2.4 kVA
Heat output5,400 kJ/hour
WaterDeionized supply and drain; confirm flow rateNot applicable
Who buys a refurbished Roche cobas c501
paymentsMid-size and community hospitals. A c501 handles a full day of metabolic panels, electrolytes, lipids and liver work, with STAT routing for the ED, at a fraction of the cost of a new system.
scienceLabs outgrowing a cobas c311. Moving up keeps the same cobas c reagents and methods while more than tripling photometric throughput and adding automatic reagent loading.
speedIndependent and reference labs. Two c501 modules on one core unit give up to 2,000 tests an hour with built-in redundancy.
check_circleLabs that want chemistry and immunoassay together. Add an e 601 module and run thyroid, cardiac, fertility and tumor markers from the same rack as chemistry.
local_hospitalRoche networks adding capacity or backup. A refurbished c501 runs the same cobas c reagents, calibrators and controls as a cobas 8000 in the core lab, so results line up across sites.
What a refurbished cobas c501 costs
You pay up to 70% less for a refurbished cobas c501 from Diamond than for a new one. We don’t list a single price because each quote is built around the system you need:
check_circleWhat comes with the module. The core unit, control unit and software that run it, if you don't already own them.
check_circleYour configuration. A c501 on its own, a second c501, or an e 601 immunoassay module alongside it.
paymentsBuild year and software version. Later units with current software cost more.
engineeringInstall, verification and training. Setup and assay verification at your site.
handymanService coverage. Platinum through Bronze plans, or per-visit support.
swap_horizTrade-in credit. The value of the analyzer you're retiring.
Financing for a cobas c501
Finance or lease up to $2 million, with application-only approval up to $400,000.
Start with $0 down and a low introductory payment.
Get a fast credit decision and terms matched to your budget.
Include shipping and other costs in the same payments.
Send your volume, menu and the configuration you have in mind for a quote.
Cobas c501, c311, c502 or c503?
check_circleChoose the cobas c501 if you need up to 1,000 tests an hour with electrolytes built into the module, on a mid-size system that can grow with an immunoassay module.
check_circleChoose the cobas c311 if your volume fits 300 photometric tests an hour and you want a stand-alone analyzer with a smaller footprint.
check_circleChoose the cobas c502 if you're building a cobas 8000. It's analytically identical to the c501 but has no ISE unit, because the cobas 8000 runs electrolytes on its own ISE module.
check_circleChoose the cobas c503 if you want Roche's newer cobas pro platform and its newer reagent generation, at a higher price than a c501.
Why buy your refurbished cobas c501 from Diamond
Rebuilt module, not a pulled one
Many used c501 modules come straight out of a lab that upgraded, with no record of probe, lamp or electrode condition. Diamond rebuilds every c501 to the frame, replaces wear parts with new probes, syringes, seals, tubing and reagent lines, and validates chemistry and electrolytes with multi-level QC before it's crated. We are FDA registered and ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified in the US and the EU.
Installed and serviced by our engineers
Our engineers install the c501 on its core unit, verify your assays and electrolytes, and train your staff.
Every unit is eligible for our field service plans, from Platinum with next-day response to per-visit support.
Preventive maintenance plans keep the c501 on its recommended schedule at a fixed cost.
Trade in what it replaces
We may take your old analyzer in trade, handle the deinstall and decontamination, and apply its value to your c501.
Roche cobas c501 FAQ
Q: What is the throughput of the cobas c501?A: Up to 1,000 tests an hour per module: 600 photometric and 400 ISE.
Q: How many reagents does the cobas c501 hold?A: 60 reagent cassette positions, plus 3 ISE channels for sodium, potassium and chloride.
Q: Is the cobas c501 part of the cobas 6000?A: Yes. The c501 is the chemistry module of the cobas 6000 analyzer series and runs on a cobas 6000 core unit, alone or with a second c501 or e 601 immunoassay modules.
Q: What's the difference between the cobas c501 and c502?A: The c502 is the cobas 8000 version of the same photometric module, without the integrated ISE. A cobas 8000 runs electrolytes on a separate ISE module.
Q: Can the cobas c501 run HbA1c?A: Yes, from whole blood, alongside the rest of your chemistry menu.
Q: Who services a refurbished cobas c501?A: Our field engineers, with service plans from Platinum next-day response to per-visit support.


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Every analyzer undergoes a systemized, rigorous and unique Down-To-Frame® Refurbishment process to rebuild each analyzer to its original specification and intended use.
91 Total Assays Tested
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| Private Labeled by: | Hitachi |
| Series: | Cobas 6000 |
| CLIA Complexity: | Moderate |
| Sample Types: | CSF, Plasma, Urine, Serum, Whole Blood |
| Number of Assays: | 92 |
| Maximum Throughput: | 1000 tests/hour |
| Sample Cycle Time: | 18 (sec) |
| Sample Size Min: | 1 μL |
| Direct Sample (STAT): | Yes |
| Auto Sample Handling: | Yes |
| Sample Input Type: | Sample Tube Sample Cup |
| Reagent Type: | Liquid |
| Reagent System: | Closed |
| Reagent Capacity: | 63 (60 cassettes + 3 ISE) |
| On-Board Refrigeration: | Yes |
| Configuration: | Floor Model |
| Height: | 130 cm (51 in) |
| Width: | 180 cm (71 in) |
| Depth: | 98 cm (39 in) |
| Weight: | 330 kg (726 lb) |
| Water Requirement: | Yes |
| Water OnBoard Supply: | Yes |
| Water Consumption: | 40 (L/hour) |
| Power Supply: | 220V |
| Point Of Care: | No |
| Other Features: | Photometric Measuring Unit (incl. ISE) |
All units sold by Diamond Diagnostics or units qualified by Diamond Diagnostics are eligible for Field Service coverage. Service plans are the best way to maximize your instrument investment and avoid the high costs associated with instrument failure. Our plans are designed to support optimum instrument performance, ensure reproducible results and minimize down-time. Our service plans provide a timely response from our dedicated engineers who are certified on an ongoing basis to ensure top-notch results, even in the most complex laboratory environments.
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For the laboratory looking to manage manufacture recommended preventative maintenance (PM) schedules for instrumentation at a fixed cost. The PM Service Plan will increase the reliability and reduce the risk and costs of unplanned maintenance and equipment downtime. Our plans are scheduled and planned around your specific instrument and operational needs.

For the laboratory looking to maximize the life of their instrumentation while effectively managing repair costs. The Depot Repair is a per diem plan designed for any size instrument needing major repair, complete rebuild or recycling.

For the laboratory looking to maximize the life of their instrumentation while effectively managing repair costs. Annual Depot Repair is an annual based plan designed for small to mid-sized instruments needing maintenance or repairs and can be easily shipped by your local carrier to our Depot Service Facility in Holliston, MA.

For the laboratory employing qualified service professionals, the Virtual Plan may be a suitable choice to replace or supplement Field Services. The Virtual plan offers its customers support by email and telephone, within business hours with communication directly with Clinical Engineering staff specialized in the model of instrumentation that the laboratory is utilizing. The Virtual Plan is annual.
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