Illumina Partners to Automate Work Flow

Illumina, Inc is collaborating with leading providers of liquid handling robotic platforms to develop automation methods for its best-in-class TruSeq and Nextera Sample Preparation kits. Initial partners in this effort are Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Eppendorf, Hamilton Robotics, PerkinElmer, and Tecan.

These partnerships, and the resulting methods, reflect Illumina's commitment to creating the simplest, most efficient next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, and represent an important step towards enabling complete, end-to-end solutions for customers.

"We are excited to work with the top automation providers to deliver solutions that can be readily implemented in the lab, thus saving time for our customers and making automation much more accessible," said Christian Henry, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Illumina's Genomic Solutions business. "TruSeq and Nextera sample preparation kits are designed with master-mixed reagents and simplified protocols to facilitate automation. In the long term, the new methods will allow more samples to be run simultaneously and with fewer errors, while freeing up resources so that customers can focus on their scientific goals."

Under the agreements, sample preparation kits sold by Illumina will be automated by the partners, who will develop, distribute and install the methods on customers' robots, as well as provide technical support. Illumina will assist during development, testing and promotion of the methods. Methods for TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation kits will be available by end of Q2 2013, with automation methods for additional TruSeq and Nextera kits to follow.