Illumina launches dual microarray and next generation genome sequencer

Purchasing a microarray or next generation sequencers is no small investment. Now Illumina is hedging its bet by providing a single unit that incorporates both technologies, the HiScanSQ.

The system is targeted at smaller labs that require the flexibility of using both approaches without needing to purchase dedicated platforms, or for labs that presently use microarrays but are starting to move in to next gen sequencing.

The HiScanSQ system has two components: the HiScan Reader, an array scanner that can also image sequencing flow cells; and the SQ Module, an add-on fluidics device that enables genomic-scale sequencing.

The HiScan Reader functions independently as a high-speed, precision micro-array scanner for Illumina's BeadArray products. With the SQ module, the system switches to perform Illumina's sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS), generating 50 Gb of data per paired-end flow cell.

"The idea behind the HiScanSQ platform is to give people flexibility," said Tristan Orpin, senior vice president, Commercial Operations at Illumina, in a statement.

"The falling cost of sequencing has made arrays and sequencing complementary, so many core labs are looking for a system that will allow them to perform some initial discovery with arrays, and then use sequencing to further characterise or validate the results in-house."

More information can be found at the Illumina website.