Inactive

The Virology & Emerging Infections Department of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6) conducts laboratory processes for diagnostics of human respiratory viruses using different standar... The Virology & Emerging Infections Department of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6) conducts laboratory processes for diagnostics of human respiratory viruses using different standard methods for confirmation and identification of pathogens under the GEIS surveillance program. We aim to collect respiratory specimens from people with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection in multiple countries throughout Latin America. Those specimens will be tested for influenza at the site of collection and will also be sent to our lab for further respiratory virus testing. Aside from the influenza virus, there are other respiratory viruses of great importance in public health, which are considered in the GEIS surveillance program such metapneumovirus, among others. Assays performed in the laboratory for these viruses include viral isolation in tissue cultures and identification of isolates by immunofluorescence methods (IFI), which require specific reagents such as antigens or antibodies that react specifically against above pathogens. The universal transport medium system is intended for the collection and transport of specimens containing viruses, chlamydia and mycoplasma from the collection site to our testing laboratory. The UTM system includes a universal transporting medium that is room temperature stable, which can sustain viability (and infectivity) of a number of organisms that include important viruses, chlamydia and mycoplasma, and is supplied as a sample collection kit that comprises a package which contains one screw-cap tube of UTM medium and a peel pouch incorporating one or two sterile specimen collection swabs. Due to the large number of samples processed in the laboratory, we need to keep a stock of reagents for respiratory viruses in order to maintain the surveillance program ongoing and identify the above viruses, and make sure our study sites are well supplied with sample collection tools. 1. Cat. # 01-010000.V2: Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Screening & ID (FROZEN), Qty.: 2 2. Cat. # 01-035005: MPV MAB Conjugate (FROZEN), Qty.: 1 3. Cat. # 401C: 3ml UTM/Minitip flocked swab (50/bx) (ROOM TEMP), Qty.: 75 As far as delivery, a first batch comprised of all viruses and 35 kits of UTM is required as soon as contract is awarded to vendor; a second batch of 40 kits of UTM is needed 4 months later. Expiration date of all items should be the furthest possible in 2021. Shipping address: AMERICAN EMBASSY LIMA ELMER FAUCETT AVE JORGE CHAVEZ INTL AIRPORT LIMA - PERU