Microarray slides and the materials to process them including labeling kits, wash buffers, and other miscellaneous supplies. These are used in conjunction with the Laboratories? Microarray scanner to perform Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) testing in UI Health patients. This testing allows for the detection of congenital genetic abnormalities responsible for diseases.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) In the past, a critical component of this testing had to be sent out to reference labs for testing due to a technical shortcoming of the previous vendor?s materials. Use of the microarrays from OGT has allowed the Cytogenetics Lab to bring this testing in house and provide critical information to our Hospital clinicians with a more comprehensive result in a faster period. Without this, testing would once again need to be sent out at a higher cost and turnaround time.