OFFSITE DONOR SAMPLE ARCHIVING

Descriptions

The Welsh Blood Service (WBS) is responsible for the provision of Blood components and a range of associated specialist laboratory and patient diagnostic services to hospitals in South and Mid Wales. WBS current collects 103,000 donations annually.The Automated Testing Department performs a wide range of tests on donor and patients samples. These include the large-scale serological screening of blood donor samples for microbiological markers such as HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV combo, syphilis antibody, anti-HTLV and anti-CMV. Blood grouping, red cell antibody screening and nucleic acid testing (NAT) for HBV, HCV and HIV are also performed on all donor samples. After all testing is completed, a sample collected in PPT tubes for each donation is stored below -30oC for up to 10 years.The tender is for the provision of sample storage facility below -30oC for up to 10 years. The supplier will be expected to maintain an inventory of all stored material and return selected samples on request. The tender includes refrigerated transportation of frozen samples to and from the WBS. Secure destruction of samples kept for more than 10 years would be desirable.The period of the contract is likely to be 3 years plus 1 plus 1. A managed service will be considered.