Outsourcing of Genetic Testing

The All Wales Medical Genomics Service are relocating from the University Hospital of Wales to CIGC in October 2024. To support this relocation, outsourced testing is required to provide continued support across Wales due to downtime of laboratory testing activity. The initial plan was to utilise laboratory space across NHS functions within the United Kingdom. However, due to late changes in capacity of these laboratories this is no longer feasible. Hence, the decision has been made to single award due to timescales preventing full tender and utilise Synlab Laboratories given they are familiar with AWMGS processes and able to provide the capacity and quick turnround required.

The All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS) is an NHS specialist health service hosted at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The AWMGS delivers its services across Wales supporting patients with genetic conditions and those at risk of developing symptoms of a genetic condition, and in addition delivering genomic tests. As part of the Welsh Government’s Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales’s, AWMGS will be relocating from UHW to its new facility at CIGC.

All Wales Genomic Laboratory currently provide hundreds of diagnostic tests, averaging a sample throughput of over 3,100 a month. Many of these tests are urgent patient critical diagnosis and treatments, with short turnaround times and as such, a provision must be supplied.

The initial plan was to utilise laboratory space across NHS functions within the United Kingdom. However, due to late changes in capacity of these laboratories this is no longer feasible. Hence, the decision has been made to single award due to timescales preventing full tender and utilise Synlab Laboratories given they are familiar with AWMGS processes and able to provide the capacity and quick turnround required.