Promega Corporation has developed a benchtop capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument in collaboration with Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation.
Called Spectrum Compact CE System, it meets small batch and single sample needs in DNA analysis and performs both sequencing and fragment analysis at a moment’s notice.
Ideal for laboratories of all sizes, the new system conducts single nucleotide polymorphism, PCR sizing and microsatellite analysis, de novo sequencing, NGS validation and mutation detection.
Equipped with the four-capillary, six-dye detection characteristics and an integrated touch-screen for operation, the instrument is designed to run approximately 32 samples simultaneously.
Promega Nucleic Acid Technologies research head Doug Storts said: “This opens new possibilities to scientists seeking high quality DNA detection on a smaller scale.
“This system supports the unique workflows of the lab versus the lab needing to batch samples as a work around and cost savings measure when using a high-throughput instrument or service.
"When we ask for early input from labs worldwide, the consistent response we get from scientists is ‘thank you’.”
The CE intrument also features plug-and-play prefilled reagent cartridges with a guided software user interface that is claimed to make the usage of the instrument easy.
While the firm plans to display the first prototype in February, the compact instrument is estimated to be available commercially in the second half of 2017.
The collaboration between Promega and Hitachi High-Technologies is expected to leverage their respective strengths to provide a high-performing, high-value, compact capillary electrophoresis instrument.
Promega intends to further launch a new Sanger sequencing kit with enhanced base-calling accuracy, to support the Spectrum compact CE system.
Image: Promega's new Spectrum compact CE system. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire/Promega Corporation.
