SPD - Purchase of Microscope

Tender description

The State Pathologist’s Department (SPD) is a body within the Department of Justice (DOJ), which operates at arms length to the department. It provides an independent forensic pathology service for Northern Ireland, as well as providing advice and guidance in other areas of forensic medicine. The statutory duties of the State Pathologist and his department are contained in the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 and Coroners Rules 1963. The work of SPD is wide ranging. Its key aims are: to carry out autopsies as directed by Coroners Service (approx 1200 per year); to determine the cause of death when it occurs suddenly, suspiciously or unnaturally; to prepare autopsy reports and give evidence at coroners’ inquests; and to inform the development and refining of forensic pathology techniques, improving the treatment and healthcare of patients, and the prevention of further similar deaths. All forensic post mortems undertaken at SPD can potentially form part of criminal proceedings. All cases require microscopy using a high specification microscope. At all post mortem examinations, samples of tissue/organs are taken for examination to assist the Pathologist in determining the cause of death. This tissue is then converted into paraffin blocks from which microscopy slides are prepared. These slides/blocks are prepared in the SPD laboratory for examination by the Pathologist. One of the microscopes currently used by the consultant pathologists was purchased on 23 March 1994. The optics, resolution and ergonomics of the microscope are no longer of a standard acceptable for diagnostic purposes. A replacement microscope is required that has the facility for taking high quality colour digital photomicrographs. Due to the specialist nature of the work undertaken at SPD, the requirements are quite specific. A detailed technical specification can be found under the heading, Microscope Specification, within the tender documentation.