PacBio, Covaris Workflow Boosts HiFi Sequencing of Archived Tumor Samples
Event summary
- PacBio and Covaris have jointly developed a workflow for HiFi long-read sequencing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples.
- The workflow integrates Covaris’ truXTRAC FFPE extraction technology with PacBio’s Kinnex library preparation and Revio sequencing system.
- Early studies generated over 100 million HiFi reads per sample, detecting over 5 million small variants and over 11,000 structural variants.
- The workflow achieves approximately 60% direct phasing of variants, a significant improvement over short-read sequencing methods.
- PacBio’s SPRQ-Nx technology is enabling a lower cost per genome, making this workflow more accessible for clinical researchers.
The big picture
The ability to reliably sequence FFPE samples, a vast and historically underutilized resource, represents a significant advancement in genomic research and clinical diagnostics. This joint workflow addresses a key bottleneck in oncology research, potentially unlocking insights from archived tumor samples and accelerating the development of targeted therapies. The increased variant detection and phasing capabilities could also improve the accuracy of cancer risk assessments and treatment decisions.
What we're watching
- Clinical Adoption
- The extent to which clinical researchers adopt this workflow will depend on demonstrated utility and cost-effectiveness compared to existing short-read sequencing approaches, particularly in routine diagnostics.
- Regulatory Hurdles
- As FFPE sequencing becomes more prevalent in clinical settings, regulatory scrutiny of the workflow and its data interpretation will likely increase, potentially impacting commercialization timelines.
- Competitive Response
- Other sequencing technology providers will likely respond to this advancement, potentially introducing competing solutions or partnerships that could erode PacBio and Covaris’ market share.
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