Automation specialists Opentrons Labworks and Swift Biosciences, lab equipment supplier, have launched a fully-automated workstation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation.
The two companies launched the product at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening Conference (SLAS2020) in San Diego, 25–29 January.
Costing $15,755, biologists can get everything they need to go from double-stranded DNA to a ready-to-sequence NGS library in a single fully-automated run for under $30 per sample.
“Our goal has always been to make sophisticated biotechnology tools more accessible to more people. This means fully-automated genomics workstations that are affordable, of course, but also extremely robust and easy to use," said Opentrons Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Will Canine. "With this workstation, labs can save 6 or more hours of hands-on time for each batch of NGS libraries they produce."
This announcement follows on Opentrons launch of their fully automated on-deck thermocycler in 2019. This new module enables biologists to keep amplification steps on-robot during NGS library prep protocols, rather than requiring they move samples to an off-deck PCR machine. This eliminates human intervention steps, removing opportunity for error while giving scientists more hands-off time.
"At Swift, we specialise in high quality library preparation workflows and have found a capable automation partner in Opentrons," said Mida Pezeshkian, Senior Product Manager at Swift.
