PHE_Scientific_Provision of T Cell Testing (National Immunisation Programme)

Public Health England (PHE) has awarded a contract to Oxford Immunotec under Lot 2 of the National Microbiology Framework for services to carry T-SPOT® Discovery SARS-CoV-2 assay tests as part of the National Immunisation Programme, a study which PHE has been tasked to perform to evaluate the immune response following COVID-19 vaccines.

The provision of T-SPOT Discovery SARS-CoV-2 testing will be used to identify the presence or absence of T cells that are reactive to SARS-CoV-2 peptides. This insight is useful for a number of applications related to understanding an individual's T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The test uses a modified ELISPOT approach (T-SPOT® Technology) to the Interferon-gamma releasing assay (IGRA).

The award to Oxford Immunotec will enable PHE to adhere to the decision made by the UK Vaccines Taskforce who selected Oxford Immunotec as the sole supplier of T cell Testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific responses as part of the new COVID vaccine trials.

The Vaccines Taskforce has emphasised that it is important to be able to assess the different vaccines head-to-head and employing Oxford Immunotec's T-SPOT technology will measure the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2 protein-specific T cell response of different vaccine candidates for cross-comparisons. This will ensure that the evaluation of the National Immunisation Programme being carried out by PHE is consistent with the other vaccine studies performed within the UK, providing for comprehensive comparison and analysis to be carried out across all the different studies.

The Contract will commence on 01 September 2021 and the initial period will end on 31 January 2023.

The Term may be extended by a further period of up to 12 months if required.