PCR Molecular Testing

Tender description

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust are looking at tendering for PCR Molecular Testing Platforms in order to carry out rapid molecular testing. Lot 1: The Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Service (MPDS) at UHB needs to be able to deliver a quick and highly sensitive assessment of RET and MET alterations in lung cancer samples, which is required prior to the prescription of drugs targeting RET and MET. A quick turn around time is required, since lung cancer patients need to be started on the treatment as soon as possible. Lung tumour samples are of small size; there is therefore a need for a highly sensitive technology with a very low rate of failure. MPDS receives at least 350 lung cancer samples every month for MET exon 14 mutation and RET translocation testing; the numbers are likely to increase; the technology therefore needs to be adaptable to the needs. In order to take into account the various clinical circumstances, the technology needs to allow MPDS to perform RET and MET exon 14 alterations within a few hours for selected tumours.