Almac Diagnostic Services, a member of the Almac Group, expanded its next generation sequencing (NGS) capabilities for biopharma partners with the purchase and installation of the first Illumina NovaSeq X Plus instrument in Ireland.

The investment enhances Almac’s NGS portfolio of DNA sequencing service offerings, including whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, and a range of RNA sequencing service offerings for biomarker discovery projects.

The Illumina NovaSeq X Plus enables larger sample runs and greater read depth, including both short and long-read sequencing, and faster speeds. According to the company, it will increase throughput, variant detection quality and accuracy, and reduce turnaround time and cost per sample for client biomarker research projects.

Additionally, the NovaSeq X Plus has 90 percent less packaging weight and waste, new compact cartridges and packaging design, and more recyclable plastics.

Michael Sloan, global vice president of commercial operations, Almac Diagnostic Services said, “Almac is at the cutting edge of NGS diagnostics.  Investing in this new instrument further enhances our DNA and RNA panel offerings, opens the potential for further expansion of our NGS solutions for clients and significantly increases overall sequencing capacity, ensuring that Almac continues to play a leading role within precision medicine.”