Press release summary
PLEASANTON, Calif. — n6 said Nov. 13 that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Molecular Biology Core Facilities integrated the icon96 system into a targeted cell-free DNA sequencing service for liquid biopsy research.
The workflow combines dual unique molecular identifier library preparation, sample-specific amplification, hybrid capture and duplex sequencing. The icon96 thermocycler monitors each of 96 wells independently, and its AutoNorm function stops amplification for individual samples when a defined endpoint is reached.
In tests using reference standards, n6 reported that the workflow reliably detected variants down to 0.5% allele frequency from 1 nanogram of cfDNA. The company also said library-yield variation among 10-ng samples fell from a 54% coefficient of variation to 8%, with more than 90% on-target reads. A mixed-input run using patient-derived samples from 2 to 25 ng was normalized in one run, according to the release.
Why it matters: Core laboratories routinely receive scarce, variable cfDNA inputs, creating a balancing problem before sequencing. Per-well endpoint control could reduce manual rebalancing and post-PCR normalization. The system and workflow are for research use only; the reported results are application data, not independent clinical validation.
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