Supply of HLA Sequencing Systems

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a Procurement Act 2023 tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.
Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with future suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.
Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. Our current contract ends in August 2028 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.
We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:
· Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
· The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution.
· We are not restricting which sequencing platform the allelic...