Illumina has launched Goldengate Indexing, a high-throughput genotyping solution that utilises multi-sample indexing technology.
Researchers may now screen up to 16 times as many samples per reaction as the standard Goldengate assay, increasing throughput from 288 samples per day to more than 2,000, while decreasing total reagent consumption.
This genotyping system includes automation control and positive sample tracking through an Illumina laboratory information management system (Lims), which the company said creates a solution for low-complexity screening at an affordable cost per sample.
The plexity ranges include 96-plex, 192-plex and 384-plex, which are ideal for screening in the livestock and agriculture market as well as for whole-genome association target validation and quality control applications.
Livestock geneticists, including Curt Van Tassell of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, worked with Illumina to develop Goldengate Indexing and are now working on a custom panel for screening livestock.
Replacing older methods will allow livestock screening labs to better access genetic information of value.
For example, breeders use SNP data to identify DNA markers for applications such as identifying parentage and economically important traits, including disease resistance, marbling and feed efficiency.
With Illumina's Goldengate Indexing, researchers will have a higher degree of multiplexing options at a cost they can afford.
'Goldengate Indexing offers genetic laboratories the opportunity to expand their existing efforts in molecular breeding with a low-cost, fully automated system for fixed and custom content studies,' said Joel McComb, senior vice-president and general manager of Illumina's Life Sciences business unit.
The Illumina Goldengate Assay is a pre-optimised assay that provides consistent genotyping results.
Goldengate Indexing leverages this technology by evolving it into a high-sample throughput solution with fully integrated automation and sample tracking capabilities.
