The future is here: Automating NGS workflows

The takeaway: Automated NGS is right around the corner, and IDT is ready to show how automated NGS library prep can save you time at the bench.

AACR 2023 is right around the corner, and IDT will be on hand to listen, learn, and collaborate.

AACR 2023, the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, will be held April 14-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. AACR meetings are major gathering of the cancer research community, including health care professionals, clinicians, scientists, survivors, patients, and others.

Attendees to the AACR annual meeting will have the opportunity to view a poster presentation by a team of research and development professionals from Integrated DNA Technologies.

NGS in cancer research: Automating NGS workflows for xGen™ Custom Hyb Panels

Nicole Roseman, a research scientist at IDT, is the lead author on the poster, “Automating Next Generation Sequencing Workflows for xGen™ Custom Hyb Panels: High quality library preparation and target enrichment with xGen DNA library preparation and hybridization capture on the Biomek® Systems.”

The poster describes a study that investigated a custom 2Mb xGen Hyb panel that was designed against mutated gene targets found in several cancers using an end-to-end assay workflow on Beckman Coulter’s Biomek platforms.

The idea behind the poster is that automation in laboratories helps to generate reproducible next generation sequencing (NGS) sample libraries. One hiccup, however, is that assay automation differs between various instrument vendors and different labs. This can mean researchers need to engage in a lot of work as they seek to optimize workflow designs and start generating NGS libraries. On top of this, cancer research and other research fields often lean heavily on low-input and/or degraded samples such as cfDNA from plasma or FFPE DNA biopsies.

The solution for next generation sequencing in cancer research is an automated NGS library prep work station. NGS automation tools permit analysis of research samples immediately after instrument installation and with no optimization required. The IDT side of this equation is the xGen cfDNA & FFPE DNA Library Prep kit and xGen Hybridization Capture. This package provides a solution for labs seeking to cut down on the amount of hands-on time required of techs while also improving error reduction and rework with enhanced flexibility.

The xGen cfDNA & FFPE DNA Library Prep kit takes advantage of novel chemistry to maximize sample input conversion, suppress adapter-dimer formation, and facilitate consensus analysis. Researchers get high library diversity, high on-target results, and consistent and uniform sequencing coverage regardless of panel size.

Advantages of hybridization capture

There are several methods of targeted sequencing, with the most popular being hybridization capture and amplicon sequencing. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, with the best method depending on what the researcher is trying to accomplish.

Hybridization capture:

• Requires more steps than amplicon sequencing
• Has almost unlimited panel size capability
• Requires more time than amplicon sequencing
• Results in greater uniformity
• Has lower noise levels and fewer false positives

According to the poster, the combo of IDT’s xGen library prep solutions worked on the NGeniuS Biomek platform yields a reliable, consistent solution that users can instantly download from the portal to begin analysis of precious low-input and degraded samples. Are you interested in learning more about NGS library prep automation? Contact IDT today to explore automated NGS library prep solutions.