Additional accessories for NGS

[DNAcowboy]

Hello,

Can we try to build a list of additionial pieces of equipment needed with the GFLX, GA and Solid?

I read about sonicators, gel control, mag. beads counter,...up to disk storage but this is unclear to me.

Thanxxx

[ScottC]

Well the list of extra equipment we use for the GAII is pretty small. You can get away with nothing other than the standard molecular biology lab equipment (i.e. pipettes, microcentrifuge, thermal cycler etc), but other things can make the process easier or more efficient. Other items we've purchased are these... and even then, most of them are nothing special (well, the S2 maybe):

- Invitrogen QuantIT (DNA/RNA quantitation)
- Covaris S2 (sample shearing)
- blue light imager+SybrSAFE gel stain, rather UV transilluminator + ethidium (gel imaging, avoids template damage)
- server for data storage. There's so many options for this that you could start a new list just for that!

Cheers,

Scott.

[DNAcowboy]

Thanxx Scott, it helps. I guess Roche and LifeTech. instrument users will need more than that.

How much data storage space did you add yourself to feel comfortable?
BTW, could you tell us if you've installed the cluster station into a separate or dedicated room?

[ScottC]

We didn't purchase Illumina's server setup. We're currently using a system with 20TB, expandable in 10TB increments to 80TB.

Our cluster station is not in a separate room, and it's not a clean room either, which some people are using. We're yet to run into problems, but we haven't completed a huge number of runs, either!

[DNAcowboy]

thanxx for your comments Scott.

[james hadfield]

I would add Genecatcher tips (or similar) for reliable, low risk of contamination, reproducible band excision from gels. They make a real difference to the reproducibility of sample prep and don't cost a lot.