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Volta Labs Transforms NGS Sample Preparation with Fast Hyb App

In an exciting development for genomics, Volta Labs has unveiled the Twist Fast Hyb App, integrating it into their innovative Callisto™ Sample Prep System. This new app promises to automate the intricate process of hybridization-based target enrichment in next-generation sequencing (NGS), allowing laboratories to achieve enhanced efficiency and consistency in their workflows.

The introduction of the Fast Hyb App marks a significant advancement in lab automation. Traditionally, the hybridization steps in NGS preparation would require meticulous hands-on techniques, ensuring precise temperature control and accurate manipulation of magnetic beads. Such manual processes often lead to variability in results based on the technician's handling, complicating the reliability of outputs. However, the integration of the Fast Hyb App signifies a shift towards a more automated and reliable method of sample preparation.

With this latest offering, labs can transition from the conventional overnight hybridization processes to a streamlined same-day protocol. This is particularly vital in today's fast-paced research environment where the demand for quick and reliable results is ever-increasing. By enabling labs to automate these complex tasks, Volta Labs is not only enhancing operational efficiencies but also supporting researchers in delivering fast, high-quality results without the constant oversight traditionally required.

Key Features of the Twist Fast Hyb App

The collaboration with Twist Bioscience has resulted in two significant hybrid capture workflows being available as automated apps on Callisto: the Fast Hybridization and the Standard Hybridization v2. This partnership ensures a comprehensive solution for labs engaged in diverse sequencing applications, including comprehensive cancer profiling and whole exome sequencing.

A standout advantage of the Fast Hyb App is its ability to provide run-to-run consistency, which significantly reduces the traditional operator-to-operator variability that can lead to errors in manual preparation processes. During testing, Callisto demonstrated sequencing performance comparable to manual methods, achieving quality control metrics such as Fold-80, coverage uniformity, and AT/GC dropout rates that meet industry standards.

Expert Insights

Udayan Umapathi, CEO and founder of Volta Labs, emphasizes the significance of this development: “Target enrichment is one of the hardest workflows to automate. The Twist Fast Hyb App allows labs to utilize an automated version of Twist’s Fast Hybridization protocol, achieving performance equivalence to manual methods, with added benefits of consistency and a dramatically shortened turnaround time.”

The benefits of the Fast Hyb App extend beyond time savings and consistency. It provides a solution to the growing pressures labs face regarding operational complexity and capacity constraints. Emily M. Leproust, CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience, comments, “Expanding our hybrid capture portfolio on Volta Labs’ Callisto empowers labs with ultimate flexibility to adjust their schedules and performance needs, simplifying the adoption of high-performance solutions.”

This breakthrough highlights Volta Labs' commitment to revolutionizing genomic sample preparation. Founded in 2018 at MIT, the company is dedicated to improving NGS sample preparation through advanced automation technologies. The Callisto System utilizes proprietary electrowetting technology which notably reduces hands-on time by up to 80%, offering unmatched performance across various sequencing platforms including Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, and PacBio, among others.

Conclusion

The Twist Fast Hyb App is now available on the Callisto Sample Prep System, marking a new era in genomic workflows that merge complexity with automation. With this innovative solution, Volta Labs continues to support researchers in achieving their goals faster while maintaining the quality and reliability required in high-stakes genomic analysis. As laboratories increasingly turn to automated solutions, the Fast Hyb App will undoubtedly play a key role in shaping the future of NGS sample preparation.

For more details, visit Volta Labs.