Specifications include, but are not limited to: This sole source justification applies to the purchase of Luminex xMAP Salmonella serotyping assay kits. This test kit is a multiplex nucleic-acid based assay that detects genetic markers that are specific to Salmonella serotypes. This assay is the only available method to molecularly identify Salmonella serotypes, and the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) has been using this method for ten years. Salmonella is a common source of illness in the United States, with over 1 million cases diagnosed each year according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance of Salmonella through serotyping and genetic identification plays an important role in tracking outbreaks and combatting drug resistance. Formerly, Salmonella was serotyped with through a manual method involving antisera and agglutination, but due to the scarcity of antisera and changes in healthcare that decreased the use of culture for diagnosis, this method is no longer viable. The use of molecular serotyping expands the capability of public health laboratories in a more cost-effective and time-efficient manner. PHL’s continued use of molecular serotyping assays for Salmonella is critical to the continued surveillance and management of Salmonella in Oregon. Luminex is the only provider of the assay kits, but these kits have been approved to be used with multiple commercially available suspension array analyzers – PHL uses the Bio-Rad BioPlex 200 analyzer. Analyzer maintenance and service will be covered through Bio-Rad, not Luminex. Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification.
