Ion Torrent Library Prep fully automated on SPRIworks SPRI-TE system

[Ber7702]

It is now possible to fully automate the Ion Torrent library construction protocol using the benchtop SPRIworks SPRI-TE system from Beckman Coulter. With only 5 minutes hands on time, the SPRIworks system will complete the full protocol, including size selection, for up to 10 samples in 3.5 hours.

[RCJK]

Is the SPRIworks able to make the new longer fragment libraries for the GS FLX+? If not, is an update planned to enable this and the higher size selection needed? Thanks!

[Ber7702]

Hi RCJK,
Unfortunately the SPRIworks System II SPRI-TE will not work with the larger fragment sizes used in the new system. We do not currently have a timeline in place for a new cartridge but we will announce it as soon as we hear anything.

[dottomarco]

Any news about the 454 PLUS libraries ?
We are planning to use the SPRIworks System for Illumina HiSeq and 454+ library prep. Can anyone give some feedback about the performance of the sequencing runs compared to "hand-made" libraries?

[RCJK]

Hi dottomarco,
I have not tried it yet for 454+ libraries as I have no confidence in the instrument to be able to prepare them correctly. Beckman has told us that the current kit/method does not work for the larger sized fragments, but have not provided any more info despite telling us at the time of sale that it will always be updated to support any changes to library prep. I never had much problem with it for regular 454 rapid libraries though until recently, and that is what we have used it for the most. We used to use it for Illumina libraries for the GAIIx, but once things switched to the TruSeq chemistry and we started using the HiSeq, the Illumina libraries do not prep properly and/or the size selection isn't tight enough. There've been issues with instrument alignment as well, that have repeatedly resulted in loss of sample. We've gone to manual libraries with sizing on the Pippen Prep.

[Ber7702]

Hi dottomarco,
As RJCK mentioned above, there are no current plans to update the SPRIworks System II to cover the 454+ methods. With regards the HiSEQ, our customers in the UK are happy with the comparison with manual (they are as good or better).

Hi RJCK,
I'm sorry to hear about the issues you have had with the SPRIworks system. I know that in the UK we made it clear that we would only support methods validated at time of sale. We cannot be responsible for changes that other vendors make to their protocols and may not always be able to change our methods to be compatible with these updates. Bearing that in mind, we have not had any issues with customers using the SPRIworks and the HiSEQ 2000. We have had some failures in the UK, but this turned out to be errors in the TruSEQ adaptor sequence supplied by some primer vendors. Once that was rectified, the libraries worked fine.