Quest Diagnostics with Covaris launches automated NGS platform, optimizing workflows to maximize lab economics

Advancements in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) are changing the genomics industry, favoring those with scale. Quest Diagnostics' clinical expertise, combined with our infrastructure, position us to compete in genomics and oncology. Today, most testing is performed on gene panels; however, we expect the market will shift to whole genome sequencing in part due to a decrease in sequencing costs. Investments in clinical expertise and genomics, combined with our infrastructure, will support growth for Quest and external partners. Precise control over high throughput processes will be a prerequisite for success in this growing testing segment.

 

Controlled processing of DNA fragments is a critical step required by all NGS platforms. The Adaptive Focused Acoustics^® (AFA^®) technology from Covaris offers precise isothermal mechanical shearing of nucleic acids ensuring both unbiased fragmentation and high recovery of nucleic acids. Library preparation is the critical first step of NGS and allows nucleic acids of interest to adhere to the sequencing flowcell. Quest Diagnostics’ fully automated Genomic Sequencing Services NGS platform utilizes the Covaris R230 Focused-ultrasonicator to achieve exact control over DNA processing. Integrating the Covaris R230 on the Hamilton STAR platform drives a high-throughput, scalable NGS platform, enabling Quest to successfully automate multiple NGS assays.  This automated approach achieves reproducible fragment sizes that contribute to a more uniform process and ultimately leads to improved sequencing QC metrics.

 

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