Fluidigm Corporation has announced the release of a new protocol for the Access Array^TM System that enables sequencing of amplicon libraries using  GS FLX Titanium Series reagents on the 454 GS FLX sequencing system. The Access Array integrated fluidic circuit (IFC) automatically generates emPCR-ready libraries by simultaneously combining 48 samples and 48 primer sets to produce 48 uniquely-barcoded samples per chip for approximately 7 Euro  per sample.

Fluidigm's Access Array IFC, when used with a 454 Titanium sequencer, can capture up to 24 kb of sequence data per sample, or 1.15 MB per IFC.

"The Access Array System has already been adopted by users around the world for projects focused on research of cancer, miRNA, and population genetics that require inexpensive sequencing of targeted enrichment regions for hundreds or thousands of samples," noted Mike Lee, Fluidigm's Senior Director of Marketing. "The addition of the GS FLX Titanium Series reagents with longer reads continues to expand the amount of sequence that can be captured using our Access Array System.  The protocol will benefit our mutual customers by producing more sequence data in the researcher's regions of interest," he added.
  
Sequencing library preparation for next-generation sequencers is by far the most time and labor demanding component of the entire next-generation sequencing process. While necessary for whole genome sequencing studies, the process can be almost entirely eliminated for targeted re-sequencing projects when using Fluidigm's Access Array System. By incorporating adaptor sequences into the primer design, the final PCR product is ready for emulsion PCR as it already contains the necessary capture sequences.

The 48.48 Access Array IFC is the first chip that features the ability to recover reaction products automatically.  Once sample processing has been completed, the IFC automatically returns the samples to inlets from which it can be easily extracted and readied for sequencing.

Fluidigm (www.fluidigm.com) develops, manufactures and markets proprietary Integrated Fluidic Circuit (IFC) systems that significantly improve productivity in life science research. Fluidigm's IFCs enable the simultaneous performance of thousands of sophisticated biochemical measurements in extremely minute volumes. These "integrated circuits for biology" are made possible by miniaturizing and integrating liquid handling components on a single microfluidic device (IFC). Fluidigm's systems, consisting of instrumentation, software and single-use chips, increase throughput, decrease costs and enhance sensitivity compared to conventional laboratory systems. Fluidigm products have not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a diagnostic and are only available for research use.

*  Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Topaz, BioMark, Dynamic Array, Digital Array, Access Array and NanoFlex are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

*  454® is a registered trademark of 454 Life Sciences Corporation. Genome Sequencer FLX^TM is a trademark of 454 Life Sciences