Purchase of High Throughput Sonication Systems including Associated Consumables and Maintenance

All Wales Genomics Laboratory (AWMGL) currently owns a Covaris ME220 instrument, which was purchased in July 2018. The ME220 instrument is a low throughput instrument that can process 1 to 8 samples at a time and was purchased for a CRUK SMP2 project. Since then, it has also been implemented in the NGS familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) service and as a consequence the ME220 Instrument is currently at processing capacity and utilising it in any further work or new service is not achievable.

In line with the expansion of services for the Test Directory and implementation of the strategy for somatic cancers testing in Wales, the Laboratory requires to purchase a high throughput model of the instrument with its patented technology to be able to meet the timely and efficient testing for predicted 13,000 solid tumour samples a year. The laboratory proposes to purchase the new instrument with a trade-in option of the ME220 model, to offset part of the cost.

The Covaris LE220RSc model is deemed the only model capable of meeting the laboratory requirements:

1. Supporting a reduction in the time required for processing of 50 samples per single run from about 3.5 hours (on the ME220 instrument), down to about 30 mins. The reduced time of the setup is a necessary requirement for the clinically urgent service for somatic cancer testing.
2. Covaris, Inc is the sole manufacturer of Series of Ultrasonicators and their associated tubes, racks and other consumables.
3. The Covaris technological foundation is based on its proprietary and patented AFA™ technology. The AFA technology is performed under isothermal conditions and does not require rest periods to cool the sample down. This, together with advanced electronics, provide unprecedented control over your sample processing, resulting in an absolute uniform & highly reproducible treatment of your sample. On average, the focused acoustics of Covaris uses 150 times less energy to shear your samples than a probe or water bath sonicator. This translates to a gentler shearing, which is more efficient, consistent, and controllable.
4. The unique and innovative AFA technology is an essential part of many NGS protocols as a gold standard method of DNA and RNA shearing. The Laboratory plans to also utilise the instrument for Total Nucleic Acid extraction, to improve the yield of Nucleic Acid to maximise chances of successful testing where limited amount of cancer tissue is available.

NWSSP Procurement Services intends to award a contract on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, AWMGL, for the supply of a Covaris LE220RSc for the unique reasons outlined above. The contract is to include the installation, training consumables and associated maintenance for a period of three years (inclusive of warranty year) with the option to extend for a further two years at annual intervals.