Roche and Hamilton Introduce New Automated DNA Sample Enrichment Platform for GS Junior Sequencing Instruments

Today Roche and Hamilton Robotics jointly announced the introduction of a new, integrated platform enabling automated DNA sample enrichment for Roche’s 454 GS Junior sequencer. The platform builds on the integration of Roche’s REM e System with Hamilton’s Microlab® NIMBUS NGS workstation, resulting in reduced hands-on time, minimized operational variability and more consistent results.

“This new integrated platform will replace about four hours of laborious manual work,” said Thomas Schinecker, head of 454 Life Sciences “It is a true walkaway solution, offering an economical, convenient, compact enrichment procedure for all our GS Junior customers. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Hamilton to develop more innovative, automated solutions for our GS Junior System.”

The new platform has been fully tested and validated to automate the emPCR breaking, bead enrichment and sequence primer annealing steps in the GS Junior sample preparation workflow. Dedicated software with a graphical user interface (GUI) provides easy automation setup and simple user control.

“The Hamilton NIMBUS NGS Systems are built to speed the liquid handling process by using advanced robotic pipetting technologies,” said Dr. Jose Carle, Vice President, Hamilton Robotics. “With Roche we’ve intentionally kept the systems easy to use, affordable and smaller than conventional systems, thus putting the power of high-throughput genetic analysis and discovery directly into researchers' hands.”