Just like magic; automated solutions for NGS library preparation SLAS_Org Tecan_Talk NGS magic innovation lifesciences technology automation research
Sponsored Content by TecanJun 29 2022 insights from industryDr. Ian ShuttlerHead of Strategy & Portfolio ManagementTecan As part of our SLAS Europe 2022 coverage, we speak to Ian Shuttler from Tecan about their new MagicPrepTM NGS technology and how it is helping to accelerate life sciences research.
You’ve recently launched your new product MagicPrep NGS, which is able to complete NGS library setup in 10 minutes. Can you tell us more about some of the reasons why you decided to develop a product in this space? This goes back to our values about simplifying and improving lab processes so that research can move faster into healthcare and clinics. We know that NGS library preparation is long: it is tedious, time-consuming, and people make mistakes. We found that this was an ideal opportunity.
Many smaller labs are doing NGS research and undertaking genomic sequencing research but simply do not have the throughput to justify the larger, more expensive systems with all their inbuilt capabilities. We felt that there was definitely a need for something small, compact, and easy-to-use that would provide those clients with that level of automation.
Essentially, all you need to provide are your samples and a pipette. We provide magnetic beads. We provide every bulk reagent; everything comes fully sealed in a reagent kit. The user does not need to provide any further pipette tips, plastics, make up buffers, or anything else: it is all completely contained.
It uses thermal cycling and magnetic bead separation and includes a pipetting engine and a dispensing mechanism. These are then designed to ensure that the library prep is reliable, reproducible, and matches what they are used to doing today. Tecan Genomics had had prior experience with microfluidics electrowetting which was not necessarily successful. This was one main reason our organization adopted this approach, which we feel is more robust and reliable.
Inside, there is a highly innovative and clever arrangement of the pipetting engine; the reagent cartridge, the sample preparation deck, the blister, and the reagent dispensing mechanism. There is a PCR thermal cycler and a magnetic bead unit in there. This mimics that sort of process that the user is used to, automating it in a fully dedicated system, and is very easy to use.
Seeing is believing, and the discussions you can have in person can often go in different directions, which you often do not have in virtual communication. We have kept things going. We have kept meetings going. We have kept the exchange by communicating, but I think meeting customers face to face and having discussions with colleagues and customers here is really important because customers see things. They do all of their research online, so they really want to see it in the flesh.
If we consider, for instance, the whole COVID-19 pandemic, almost everyone in the world now understands things like lab automation and PCR; these are now household terms.
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