Thermo Introduces the Latest in Capillary Electrophoresis Technology
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Thermo has launched a new capillary electrophoresis (CE) system designed to offer a low-throughput, cartridge-based system for Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis. For use with oncology research, genome editing, species identification, and human cell line authentication among other common applications, the Applied Biosystems™ SeqStudio™ Genetic Analyzer supports the growing need for an affordable and easy-to-use CE platform. The SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer will be displayed publically for the first time in the Thermo Fisher Scientific booth (#438) at the annual European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 27-30, 2017.
The new SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer utilizes a unique all-in-one cartridge that combines the capillary array, polymer reservoir and anode buffer, which vastly simplifies preparation and hands-on processing time. Other innovative features of the system allow customers to access individualized protocols, an intuitive touchscreen and connectivity to the Thermo Fisher Cloud for remote setup and monitoring as well as easy data analysis and collaboration.
"Sanger sequencing using CE, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the gold standard sequencing technology. It helped discover novel biological findings such as the first breast cancer gene (BRCA1) and was used to complete the Human Genome Project in 2003," said Kim Kelderman, vice president and general manager of Genetic Analysis at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer is a smart and state-of-the-art system that provides researchers with a truly plug and play system."
The SeqStudio instrument has a small footprint, with an onboard computer and integrated touchscreen that makes run setup quick, intuitive and flexible. The system allows sequencing and fragment analysis runs on the same plate without the need to change any consumables. This opens new opportunities for streamlining analyses – for example, combining a locus screening test with a copy number variability test on the same CE plate.
The SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer will be available to all global markets in the second half of 2017 and is already in use by select customers in North America, EMEA, Japan and China. These early-access customers have reported exciting successes with more than 2,000 combined runs on the system.
"I am very enthusiastic about the launch of this new CE system because it brings down the cost of capillary electrophoresis platforms and is very simple to operate," said Jan Schouten, CEO of MRC Holland, which is a SeqStudio early access site that develops MLPA-based fragment analysis assays for the detection of small copy number changes. "The system can handle a complete microtiter sample plate and has sufficient capacity for both low- and mid-throughput genetic laboratories."
