Substituting Key Instruments in NGS Library Preparation & Target Enrichment
NGS experiments require several essential instruments for the Library Preparation and Target Enrichment processes. These instruments play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the experiment. In this post, we will introduce key instruments required for CELEMICS Library Preparation and Target Enrichment kits, along with alternative options to consider in case these instruments are unavailable.
Substitutable Instruments List
| No. | Instrument | Substitutability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TapeStation Instrument | O |
| 2 | Vacuum Concentrator | O |
| 3 | 1.5 mL Tube Rotator | O |
| 4 | Heat Block | △ |
- TapeStation Instrument
The size and concentration of a DNA library are crucial for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). The TapeStation system offers the advantage of obtaining both measurements in a single reaction. However, customers without access to a TapeStation must measure the size and concentration separately. Based on our experience, there are two alternative approaches:
-
- Bioanalyzer – Functions similarly to the TapeStation, providing both size and concentration measurements.
- Qubit and Agarose Gel – Qubit measures DNA concentration, while agarose gel electrophoresis assesses fragment size.
- Vacuum Concentrator
Vacuum Concentration is a necessary step for Target Enrichment experiments. However, CELEMICS has an alternative method using our CeleMag™ Clean-up Beads for efficient concentration. - 1.5 mL Tube Rotator
The 1.5mL Tube Rotator is an important instrument which is essential for the Hybridization Washing step, ensuring gentle rotation that allows CeleMag™ Streptavidin Beads and the Target Enrichment Mixture to bind with minimal degradation. If this instrument is unavailable, we recommend using Rocker or Vortex Mixer set to very gentle condition as an alternative. - Heat Block
Lastly, a heat block is essential for performing Hybridization Washing step. Some customers use 96-well plate format to integrate our kit into an automated system. In such cases, a thermal cycler (PCR machine) can serve as an alternative to heat block.
| No. | Instrument | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TapeStation Instrument | Bioanalyzer, Qubit + Agarose Gel |
| 2 | Vacuum Concentrator | CeleMag™ Clean-up Bead |
| 3 | 1.5 mL Tube Rotator | Rocker, Vortex Mixer |
| 4 | Heat Block | Thermal Cycler |
In this post, we have introduced alternative instruments for optimal NGS experiment when using CELEMICS Library Preparation and Target Enrichment kits. For further information or to find out more about CELEMICS’ wide variety of portfolio, please contact us support@celemics.com.
