Eurofins Genomics US launches Express Oxford Nanopore Sequencing service with same-day results

James Corne, VP of Marketing, Eurofins Genomics, JamesCorne@eurofins.com

Eurofins Genomics US recently launched a revolutionary new, low-cost, whole plasmid sequencing service with same-day results. By leveraging Gen3 NGS (next generation sequencing) technology, this new service delivers a single-base accuracy of up to 99%.

Eurofins Genomics US is already a major competitor in the Sanger sequencing space, with a massive sequencing infrastructure in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, it is a significate global player in the NGS space. The new service, Whole Plasmid Sequencing, seeks to close the gap between Sanger and NGS by offering an affordable, fast solution for long-read sequencing.

Pros and cons of NGS Sequencing

It is hard to overstate the impact that next generation sequencing (NGS) has had over the past few decades. Deep sequencing has paved the way for personalised medicine and evolutionary studies into infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and cancer. However, conventional NGS sequencing remains relatively slow and cost-prohibitive, despite a precipitous decrease in consumable and equipment cost over time. Furthermore, NGS requires significant time and effort to analyse and interpret the results. Although NGS has opened up a new world of possibilities, many laboratories simply do not have the resources or budget to effectively use the technology. In this sense, NGS overshot the needs of routine sequencing.

Pros and cons of Sanger Sequencing

Sanger, commonly referred to as “short read” or single moleculebased sequencing, is still the gold standard for sequencing, wtih 99.99% accuracy. Turnaround time is also extremely fast. However, the Sanger method only sequences a single DNA fragment at a time, which makes it cumbersome to verify long plasmids. Furthermore, it does not offer the same depth and versatility as newer technologies.

Advantages of Whole Plasmid Sequencing
Although Sanger and NGS both have pros and cons, many researchers find themselves choosing between too little or too much when it comes to sequencing. Whole Plasmid Sequencing combines the best of both methods. By fusing Gen3 NGS technology with internally developed methods, it offers more affordable, faster, long-read sequencing.

Located next to the UPS hub for North America, Eurofins Genomics US leverages its logistical advantage to turn around results the same day that samples arrive. No primers or library preparation is required. Long constructs ranging from 2.5 to 300 kb are accepted. By leveraging Gen3 NGS technology and its logistical advantage, Eurofins Genomics opens up a new world of sequencing possibilities, for a fraction of the time and cost of conventional NGS. For more information, visit: www.eurofinsgenomics.com/en/products/whole-plasmid-sequencing/whole-plasmid-sequencing/