Immunology

Quality-driven tender selects OGT after extensive validation

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), provider of innovative genetics research and biomarker solutions to advance molecular medicine, has been awarded a significant tender by the UK National Health Service for the supply of oligo-based arrays for cytogenetics. Involving the cooperation of a number of health authorities, the tender’s comprehensive validation process sets an excellent example for future procurement procedures. The resulting two-year agreement covers a consortium of four UK NHS Genetics Labs (Bristol, Manchester, Salisbury and Sheffield), with an additional eight labs (Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Great Ormond Street, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham and Oxford) able to take advantage of the agreed supply framework. 

In order to assess the quality of the products, each Trust laboratory submitted a variety of samples for processing. OGT was successful against a number of alternative array providers with its CytoSure ISCA 8x60k platform, designed in collaboration with the International Collaboration for Clinical Genomics (ICCG), to deliver standardised, evidence-based designs to the cytogenetic research community. OGT was the only supplier whose product correctly identified all the genetic abnormalities tested. The success was attributed to a combination of the array and associated CytoSure Interpret Software performance, which delivers reliable and user-friendly data analysis, providing rapid access to meaningful results. This software is provided by OGT with all CytoSure arrays.