Sample Tube DeCappers

Within NHSBT, the Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations. The Authority has two main laboratories in England, in which approximately 1.9 million blood donations are tested each year.

The laboratories are located in Filton (Bristol) and Manchester. Manchester is also the site of a third laboratory, which tests all donations in England for HAV/B19.

Each donation collected includes a minimum of 4 x 6mL sample tubes, taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. The Authority requires automated decapping equipment at each of the Authority’s three Testing laboratories.

Decappers must have sufficient capacity to process the daily workload of each laboratory within the required timeframe and with a minimum decapping success rate of 95%. In Filton and Manchester main laboratories, tubes are tested in 3 parallel workstreams, and therefore it is necessary that 70% of all tubes would be decapped within 3 hours.

Approximate workload of each site: • Filton Testing: approximately 10,500 sample tubes per day • Manchester Testing: approximately 4,500 sample tubes per day • Manchester HAV/B19: approximately 5000 sample tubes per day. Testing occurs in two waves and does not impact the desired criteria Additional functionality such as sample sorting, recapping and re-racking of tubes would be considered.