Company to showcase fully automated solution at AACC’s Emerging Clinical & Laboratory Diagnostics in the Healthcare Ecosystem meeting

ITHACA, N.Y. — Rheonix Inc., a supplier of fully automated molecular testing solutions, will highlight its fully automated and integrated sample preparation solution on the Encompass Optimum™ workstation at the AACC’s Emerging Clinical & Laboratory Diagnostics in the Healthcare Ecosystem meeting Nov. 9 in San Diego, California. The workstation simplifies, integrates and automates the steps required to isolate DNA and prepare sequence-ready Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) libraries. Rheonix is now evaluating and optimizing various library prep methods expanding its list of compatible methods for the workstation.

Richard Montagna, Ph.D., FACB, senior vice president for Scientific & Clinical Affairs, and Hui Zhu, M.S., staff scientist at Rheonix, will present a poster titled “Fully Automated DNA Isolation and NGS Library Preparation” Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Poster #1049. Dr. Montagna will also give an oral presentation at 12:05 p.m. on the same day, describing the collaborative effort between Rheonix and the University at Buffalo’s Genomics and Bioinformatics Core facility, located in the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.

The data demonstrate Rheonix’s fully automated and integrated solution for NGS library preparation.  Existing methods are typically highly manual and time-consuming; even methods for automating library preparation have disjointed steps, requiring multiple instruments to automate DNA extraction and library construction, with technician hands-on time required between steps. Utilizing the Encompass Optimum workstation, sequence-ready libraries were produced directly from the sample (buccal swabs and bacterial colonies) in just five hours of hands-free effort, compared with 1 ½ to 2 ½ days and significant hands-on time using the manual method. When the prepped libraries were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq platform, the resulting libraries yielded NGS sequence data indistinguishable from the labor-intensive methods previously employed by the facility.

Massively parallel NGS technology has revolutionized the field of genomics by its capability to provide large amounts of sequence data. Montagna commented, “The ability to automatically isolate DNA and prepare sequence ready DNA libraries will help to reduce the overall cost of NGS for both research and clinical applications. By integrating all DNA isolation and library preparation steps on a single workstation, the Rheonix method not only reduces a 1 ½- to 2 ½-day process to less than five hours, it also eliminates the need for multiple pieces of equipment and enables individuals of limited technical training to successfully isolate DNA and prepare sequence-ready DNA libraries.”

In addition, the Rheonix CARD® cartridge system can isolate and purify DNA from a broad spectrum of clinical and nonclinical samples, thus providing a versatile system for multiple applications.

While the Encompass Optimum workstation is currently available for research use only, Rheonix is developing a “dual use” workstation that will be able to perform either FDA-cleared assays or user defined assays.

The Encompass Optimum workstation, when integrated with a Rheonix CARD cartridge, can dramatically decrease the complexities of creating user-defined testing while increasing efficiency and accuracy. The technology delivers:

• Automation / Ease of Use – The Encompass Optimum workstation can test up to 24 samples at one time from sample to result without operator intervention. Once the raw specimen is loaded, the fully automated, high-efficiency system performs all sample preparation and molecular detection on the workstation.
• Accuracy – The Encompass Optimum workstation can run multiple samples simultaneously within fully enclosed cartridges, eliminating contamination, reducing user error and streamlining workflow.
• Multiplexing – The Encompass Optimum workstation’s ability to combine up to 22 targets allows user-defined comprehensive panels to be run in a single test, saving time and minimizing labor and reagent usage.
• Versatility – Users have the flexibility to configure and control all aspects of assay performance with a broad range of sample types. The system is capable of processing fresh tissue, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, whole blood, serum, saliva, swabs and urine. Modular architecture allows for rapid development of analytical solutions for the complete spectrum of user needs.

Attendees are invited to attend both the oral presentation on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 12:05 p.m. and the poster presentation at 4:30 p.m. that day at Poster #1049, meet the Rheonix team and learn more about how Rheonix’ microfluidic molecular analytical solutions can be used to automate and simplify NGS library preparation.

For more information on Rheonix, visit www.rheonix.com.

About Rheonix:

Through experienced leadership and creative vision, Rheonix has developed the Encompass

Optimum™ workstation, a highly customizable technology with unmatched versatility and affordability for use in research laboratories. The workstation performs fully automated, complex molecular assays in an easy-to-use and economical format on the Rheonix CARD® cartridge. With both the Rheonix CARD cartridge and Encompass Optimum workstation family of products, Rheonix is well positioned for use in key clinical, applied and research testing. For more information, visit www.rheonix.com.

About University at Buffalo’s (UB) New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences:

UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences (CBLS) is a hub for life sciences innovation and technology-based economic development. Leveraging its resources, CBLS drives scientific discovery and facilitates collaboration among academia, industry and the public sector. CBLS helps companies get the funding they need to thrive, helps scientists gain access to world-class facilities, and creates employment and investment opportunities that improve human health.