Access Array (Platform From Fluidigm) For 454 Library Preparation

Question

[Eric Normandeau]

Hi all,

I'm out of 'lurker' mode today :)

We are doing more and more NGS here in the lab, mostly 454 for now. I am evaluating Fluidigm Corporation's product, namely Access Array (product page), for use in 454 library preparation. The product seems fine and, having been implicated in the manual tagging (MID) and library preparation for two projects, I can see how it would be a powerful approach.

So, I wanted to have your opinion about this product (preferably) or other competing products/companies that offer similar possibilities (Sample Capture and Target Enrichment, Sample Bar-coding for Multiplexed Sequencing, Sequencing Library Preparation Using Amplicon Tagging). Any experience with either the company or the product?

Many thanks!

[Laurent Gautier]

time for a new stackexchange site about lab protocols, methods and instruments ?

[Eric Normandeau]

I posted the question on SeqAnswers and will update here if I get more luck there!

[User 59]

Technically more appropriate for SeqAnswers. For more biological questions there is always MajorGroove http://www.majorgroove.org/

Answer 1

[Casbon]

See also:

• TruSeq which is the illumina exome multiplex product
• SureSelect which is the Agilent target capture
• RainDance which is a microdroplet based workflow
• PopGenTech which is a highly mutiplexed workflow
• NuGEN which has some multiplexing

You can see if you want to be in this space you need a CamelCase name.

The right one for you depends on:

• number of samples
• target size

Could add more if you want but this question is probably OT for this site.

[Eric Normandeau]

Thanks for the tech suggestions @Casbon, :)

Answer 2

[Joe]

We demo'ed the access array system by performing PCR for a gene with ~48 exons in 48 individuals using the barcoding system. Among 3 different genes, two PCRed well but for one we had to optimize and then reoptimize the primers before they were ready for the full multiplexed reaction. The disappointing thing has been that Fluidigm does not fully support the sequence interpretation post-454 runs. We had to have Roche write a special program, since their system currently cannot deal with >12 barcodes. We have been stuck for ~1 month now. Let us know if you get further. [e-mail]