Yourgene Iona Nx Noninvasive Prenatal Test

Yourgene this week launched the Iona Nx Noninvasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) after having applied CE marking in June. Iona Nx is designed to run on Illumina's NextSeq 550 Dx next-generation sequencing platform, and uses the Yourgene SP150 and Yourgene QS250 instruments to combine DNA extraction, sample preparation, and enrichment ahead of the sequencing step. The QS250 is powered by Ranger technology from Coastal Genomics, which Yourgene acquired recently acquired, and features a step that enriches fetal fraction two-fold, reducing the amount of sequencing necessary and decreasing cost. The assay has greater than 99.99 percent accuracy, according to the company, and features whole-genome analysis including for trisomy 21, 18, and 13; sex chromosomal aneuploidies; other autosomal aneuploidies; and optional fetal sex determination. It will also feature microdeletion analysis in the future, the company said.

Yourgene will initially transition existing customers to the new assay in the UK and France, followed by other European territories.