2 - RFQ Attachment - Specifications.pdf

Specifications for RFQ-NIAID-2081832

The following specifications are for the procurement of a TapeStation instrument capable of conducting DNA and RNA sample quality control using electrophoresis in the context of next-generation sequence analysis. The NIH’s specific requirements are listed below:

• Must be able to achieve size and quality determination of:

o DNA fragment analysis (both for fragments up to 1000 bp (regular and high-sensitivity), and larger fragments up to 5000bp (regular and high-sensitivity), o Genomic DNA (200-60,000bp), and o RNA (RNA, RNA High-sensitivity RNA)

• Sensitivity of 100pg/uL (RNA) or 0.1 ng/μL (DNA High-sensitivity) or 5 pg/μL (DNA -regular sensitivity)

• Samples can be provided in either 8-way tube strips or 96-well plate formats.

• Must employ gel electrophoresis, and not microfluidic capillary electrophoresis for size determination.

• The instrument is a fully automated system for processing any number of samples between 1 and 96 in a single run.

• Must be compatible with 96-well plate foil covers to prevent sample evaporation and contamination.

• The system must be compatible with DNA and RNA ScreenTape assays and be able to switch between them for added flexibility.

• The system must be able to output results at a speed of 1 to 2 minutes per sample, or less than 90 minutes for 96 samples.

• The system must be able to conduct quality control tests with as little as 1 to 2 ul of DNA or RNA sample.

• Unused portions of partially used consumables should be able to be used for future assays.

• The system must be capable of running analyses with minimal manual intervention, allowing for user-independent results and reproducibility of sizing, concentration and integrity assessments to ensure constant cost per sample.

• The system must rely on the integrity standards for RNA (RNA integrity number equivalent, RIN) and genomic DNA (DNA Integrity Number, DIN).

• To operate the instrument, the samples must be loaded in separate lanes of the ScreenTape using individual tips in order to eliminate carryover.

• The system must have a self-maintenance feature in order to guarantee low ownership costs and to maximize instrument productivity.