Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What sequencing platforms do you offer?
A: We carry Illumina and PacBio.

Q: Do you offer Nanopore or MGI sequencing?
A: Not at the moment.

Q: What’s the difference between Illumina and PacBio sequencing?
A: Illumina is based on short-reads sequencing technology while PacBio is based on long-reads sequencing technology.

Q: What is the standard or recommended sequencing depth for targeted metagenomics?
A: Typically 50,000 or 100,000 or 200,000 reads (Illumina platform) per sample is recommended for universal primers targeting 16S, 18S, ITS genes.

Q: What is the standard or recommended sequencing depth for shotgun metagenomics?
A: Usually 10 GB of data output is advised. However, the data output is also open for discussion based on the project needs.

Q: What is the advantage of sequencing the full length of the 16S rRNA gene for targeted metagenomics?
A: Long reads are superior over short reads as they are able to cover the full-length 16S gene (V1 – V9) and are not limited to only the V3 – V4 partial gene region. Full length V1 – V9 16S metagenomics can provide comprehensive information on the microbial diversity compared to the short-read V3 – V4 partial region.

Q: How long will I get the results after I send my samples?
A: The TAT depends on the service committed.

General Sequencing Sample Requirements

• Minimum 5 ug and maximum 100 uL
• OD260/280 ratio > 1.8
• OD260/230 ratio > 2.0
• DNA quantification by using Qubit DNA Assay (recommended) or NanoDrop
• No degradation or RNA contamination

*May vary depending on sample type, sequencing service and platform

BTSeq™ Service

Sample requirements

• Minimum 500 ng (≥10 ng/ul) and maximum 50 uL of purified PCR product or plasmid
• OD260/280 ratio > 1.8
• OD260/230 ratio > 2.0
• DNA quantification using Qubit DNA Assay (recommended) or NanoDrop
• No degradation or RNA contamination

Publications

For inquiries, please share the following information with us:

1. Project background/goals
2. Genome/fragment size estimate
3. Number of samples
4. Type of sequencing (whole genome, RNA, amplicon, metagenomics etc)
5. Preferred platform (Illumina, Pacbio, BTSeq etc) and specifications (PE150, PE250, CLR, HiFi etc)
6. Sequencing depth/coverage
7. Is bioinformatics needed? If yes, what type of analysis?
8. Project timeline
9. Budget estimate