Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Tender description

Cardiff and Vale uLHB intends to purchase an Triple Quad 5500 system to improve and increase the performance of a multitude of assays including plasma/urine metadrenalines and 17-hydroxy progesterone in serum, saliva and bloodspots, unattended auto-sampling and continuous running of samples in a 24 hour period. This equipment will be compatible with existing AB Sciex platforms. The purchase will include associated maintenance service plan. There is a requirement for a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer fitted with an interchangeable ionisation source. It must have a liquid chromatography unit with an automated sample introduction. The instrument must be able to perform a multitude of assays including plasma/urine metadrenalines and 17-hydroxy progesterone in serum, saliva and bloodspots. Unattended auto-sampling and continuous running of samples in a 24-hour period should be possible. A computer system should be supplied capable of running the tandem mass spectrometer and sampling system, as well as analysing the mass spectral data to produce results in a reportable format. The laboratory currently operate other AB Sciex instruments sensitive enough for measurement of plasma metadrenalines/salivary samples. To minimise clinical disruption through method development times, compatibility and interfacing issues, and staff training and it is imperative that the new instrument would replicate the existing system exactly. This will mean current methods will be able to be transferred across with no new development work required. This will also reduce the implementation time of the new system into our clinical service and ensure we provide a robust service for our clinical users. Training requirements will be reduced which will allow allocation of staff time to further development, future-proofing our clinical service. For this reason, no other supplier is considered.