AUTOMATED TISSUE STAINING ANALYZERS (CPK) - COLUMBIA VAMC

The contract was not awarded competitively. This was a sole source award. Roche Diagnostics is the only contractor that has the capability to provide the following:

Barcode Driven Technology for Reagents and Protocols: Testing protocols are pre-programmed in the Benchmark ULTRA software; barcode labels are printed to associate slides with specific protocols and reagents. The Benchmark ULTRA’s barcode driven technology allows automatic input of data for the reagent delivery system with the associated slide protocol label. Barcoded reagents facilitate the Benchmark ULTRA’s inventory tracking system.

The system also has Continuous and Random Access Operation: The Benchmark ULTRA functions as a continuous and random access IHC/ISH platform. Slides, reagents, and self-contained waste system can be simultaneously accessed as the system is processing samples.

Slides can be removed and added continually during normal operation individual slide drawers, individually plummeted bulk reagents and arch design of the reagent dispensing carousel enable the Benchmark ULTRA’s efficient and continuous access processing feature. Individual Slide Heating Pads are precision heated and maintained at various temperatures to facilitate staining reactions. Individual micro-controlled slide heating: 35 Celsius incrementally to 42 Celsius and Ambient antibody incubation. Ambient to 100 Celsius is under 3 minutes. 100 – 35 Celsius in under seven minutes. Enables automated baking of paraffin sections.

Proprietary Bulk Reagents and Volume Adjust Feature: Ventana bulk reagents with heat enable the following fully automated reactions during the staining process: Deparaffinization with EZ-Prep-proprietary bulk reagent. Cell conditioning or epitope unmasking with ULTRA CC1 and ULTRA CC2 – proprietary bulk reagents. Additional unique features include ULTRA Liquid Coverslip; Air Vortex Mixing; Reagent Dispensers; Buffer Jet Slide Rince and Capacity Throughput. All of these features are key to this highly specialized system. In our effort to avoid substantial duplication of cost to that the government that cannot be recovered through competition and unacceptable delays.