Blood-grouping reagents

Tender description

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy/requirements, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available automated or semi-automated blood group testing equipment for use as a secondary testing technology for ABO and Rhesus D typing, antibody screening and identification, extended red cell phenotyping and HbAS (heterozygous sickle cell trait) screening for donor blood samples. NHSBT would like to consult the market to improve our knowledge of all current test kits and systems available in the market place, identify further opportunities and, potential issues, and gauge market interest in the proposed service. The NHSBT are looking at all available technology including new technology. Ideally the equipment will be high throughput with walk away operation and the technology will meet the current and future needs of the service, in a cost effective manner. A complete solution (test system) includes all necessary maintenance, consumables, software and overall support required to carry out the test and comply with required MHRA regulations by having a ‘CE’ mark. As a minimum test results are required for (annual volume estimation in brackets): — ABO repeats (6 200), — RhD repeats (4 100), — antibody neat screen — 3 cell screen-capture R (113 000), — antibody titre 1:10 and 1:50 — 3 cell screen-capture R (6 800), — paediatric antibody neat screen — 3 cell screen-capture R (184), — Fya (73 000), — Fyb (72 000), — k (12 000), — Lua (10 000), — Kpa (10 000), — Haemoglobin S screen suitable to screen for HbAS (heterozygous sickle cell trait) for blood donation (84 000). All test protocols must be in accordance with the Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion Services in the United Kingdom (Red Book). It is NHSBT’s intention to engage with the market to gather detailed information about the market’s capabilities. The format for this will be communicated to those that respond to this PIN. If a supplier engagement day is deemed necessary this will be held in late September/early October. If you are interested in this requirement, please email jess.allen@nhsbt.nhs.uk Please include an overview of your solution to meet the requirements in this PIN.