Disinfectant Devices

It is a requirement of the ‘Guidelines for the Blood Transfusion Services in the UK’, that there is a standardised and validated procedure for the preparation of the venepuncture site in operation; this to ensure surgical cleanliness and provide maximum possible assurance of a sterile product in order to reduce the risk of a transfusion transmitted infection.

Best practice in skin disinfection was defined in Evidence Based Practice in Infection Control Guidelines Version 2 (EPIC2) commissioned by the United Kingdom (UK) Department of Health (DoH) which recommended that a solution of chlorhexidine and alcohol should be used. The only product range - in individual applicator form and containing the required 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol formulation - currently licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is ChloraPrep®, distributed by Insight Health Limited.

For this procurement process:

• the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a call for competition will be followed, on the basis that the disinfectant devices can only be supplied by Insight Health Limited, because competition is absent for technical reasons.
• NHS Blood and Transplant is acting in capacity of the central purchasing body (i.e. the contracting entity), where it will award a contract for the supply of disinfectant devices (of various sizes) intended for one or more Participating Authorities; although for the avoidance of doubt NHS Blood and Transplant will not place purchase orders on behalf of other Participating Authorities.