DEMAND for the laboratory services provided by NHS Borders is on the increase, peaking last year (2012/13) when nearly 1.2million clinical biochemistry tests were carried out.

The Borders General Hospital-based facility also dealt with over 100,000 microbiology samples and nearly 200,000 blood tests. And health bosses believe that workload will increase by six per cent a year over the next seven years.

The surge in demand and the need to replace outdated analysis equipment (analysers) has led the health authority to seek private sector tenders for the provision of the new kit and the reactive chemicals – known as reagents – required to carry out the testing.

Details of the lucrative seven-year contract – worth an estimated £5.6million – were posted on the Public Service Contracts website on Friday.

Potential suppliers have until May 8 to submit bids.

The tender documentation explains that the lab provides sample testing and the provision of results for the Borders General Hospital as well as the region’s four community hospitals and 56 health centres.

“We are seeking bids from suppliers to replace a number of haematology, blood transfusion, chemical chemistry and microbiology analysers…and the provision of reagents, consumables and maintenance.

“Contract options will include capital purchase, reagent rental and managed service agreements.”