Leiden University Medical Center's (LUMC) Human Genetics Department has bought a Fluidigm Access Array system.
The Access Array system enables users to automatically prepare sequencing-ready libraries from up to 48 individual samples at a time, for as little as EUR7 (GBP6.3) per sample.
'LUMC will use the Fluidigm Access Array system to get reliable amplification of individual gene segments.
'While the samples are being amplified, they are individually tagged so the various samples can later be identified after simultaneous processing in our next-generation sequencer.
'This will reduce our overall cost and time-to-results for genetic diagnostics,' said Johan den Dunnen, head of the research facility at the Leiden Genome Technology Center (LGTC).
'Amplification of individual samples and gene segments is laborious, time-consuming and costly.
'Samples need to be combined in equimolar amounts to achieve equal coverage when sequenced in a mix.
'Our early results are promising and we expect the Access Array system to help us achieve equal yields and even coverage from these combined samples after sequencing,' explained den Dunnen.
'We don't make nextgen sequencers, but Fluidigm's Access Array system does make those sequencers work better.
'Our Access Array technology simplifies the up-front preparation and maximises the utility of today's next-generation sequencers,' said Mike Lee, Fluidigm's senior director of marketing.
The Fluidigm Access Array system can be used with any PCR-based sample-preparation method and with the reagents and primers of the customer's choosing.
The Access Array system includes specific single-use microfluidic integrated fluidic circuits (IFCs), two IFC controllers and a stand-alone thermal cycler to deliver results in just four hours.
The 48.48 Access Array IFC is the first chip that can automatically recover reaction products.
Once sample processing has been completed, the IFC automatically returns the samples to inlets from which they can be easily extracted and readied for sequencing.
