Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also called high-throughput sequencing, is an umbrella term used to describe a range of modern DNA and RNA sequencing methodologies that have helped revolutionise molecular biology and genomics. These techniques include SOLiD sequencing, Ion torrent: Proton/PGM sequencing, Roche 454 sequencing and Illumina (Solexa) sequencing.
Thanks to these advances, by reducing costs and greatly increasing efficiency in the amount of sequence data generated per run, the impact of NGS has been seen right across the Life Sciences. Medical Research, in particular, has seen major advances in the understanding of the genetic implications of a large number of diseases.
Irrespective of which NGS method is being applied, or the specific sample preparation equipment chosen for quantification, it is essential that the quality and quantity of the DNA library is of the highest quality. Therefore, along with picking the best and most appropriate library preparation kit, fragmentation method and quantification kit manufacturer, the choice of microplate reader and microplate size type is a prerequisite for ensuring maximum DNA suitability for the sequencing process.
BMG LABTECH, a major international developer and manufacturer of high-quality, innovative, microplate reader instrumentation, have produced a number of application notes that address exactly how their equipment is designed to assist the NGS user and produce the best results. Application notes include:
- Quantifying double-stranded DNA with fluorescent dyes
- Qubit on BMG LABTECH instruments
- DNA measurements in low-volume samples
- Measure femtogram quantities of dsDNA
- Fluorescent quantification of low amounts of dsDNA using AccuBlue NextGen from Biotium
Microplate readers from BMG LABTECH offer NGS users the ability to read UV and fluorescence, both in microplates and in low volume samples at 1-2μL in a 16 sample re-usable read plate (LVis Plate). All instruments offer high sensitivity, and are GLP compatible, and all have software provided to support full reporting of calculated results.
BMG LABTECH microplate readers including the PHERAstar FSX, CLARIOstar, and OMEGA are ideal for the NGS applications and especially suited to high throughput when used in combination with the BMG LABTECH tacker or when integrated with leading robotics platforms.
The choice of the best microplate reader is crucial for assisting NGS to continue to contribute to major advances in molecular biology and genomics. In their series of application notes, BMG LABTECH has provided important information for anybody involved in sequencing today.
