The new release provides performance improvements via updated sequencing chemistry, optimized sample clean-up protocols, and associated software that together further improve read lengths, throughput and accuracy of the system.
In addition, as customers upgrade their Sequel Systems to the new software and chemistry, they will no longer be subject to the supply constraints for SMRT Cells that were in effect earlier this year.
“These updates reinforce our continued commitment to improving SMRT Sequencing throughput, read length, and accuracy through optimized protocols and chemistry to enhance applications, such as de novo assembly, targeted sequencing, and the Iso-Seq method for RNA analysis,” said Kevin Corcoran, Senior Vice President of Market Development for Pacific Biosciences.
“With this release, we have removed SMRT Cell supply constraints as we begin to source SMRT Cells for the Sequel System from our high-volume supplier.”
Yi Han, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, who had early access to the new chemistry and software commented: “We are very impressed with the data we are getting with the latest update to the Sequel chemistry, sample prep, and software. As one of the first adopters of SMRT Sequencing, we appreciate how PacBio has partnered with us since 2010 to continually make improvements to the technology that directly benefit our research.”
Robert Sebra, Ph.D., Director of Technology Development & Associate Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai stated, "To date we’ve successfully demonstrated high molecular depth targeted long-range amplicon sequencing for a variety of medically relevant and other research applications, in addition to using the Iso-Seq and variant validation pipelines on Sequel.
“With the most recent releases, we’ve now seen significantly improved sequencing metrics and the non-restricted SMRT Cell supply will now enable larger genomes to be sequenced, and research requiring extreme molecular depth using the Sequel technology to truly differentiate the power of higher throughput long-read single molecule sequencing."
