Agilent Technologies has launched the RNA ScreenTape and the D1000 ScreenTape assays for quality control of samples in next-generation sequencing workflows. The new assays replace the R6K and D1K ScreenTape assays. The new RNA assay assesses total RNA for eukaryotic and prokaryotic samples, while the D1000 assay delivers closer alignment in sizing and quantification to the 2100 Bioanalyzer system.
Convey has launched PacBioToCa, an assembly algorithm for genomes sequenced on Pacific Bioinformatics RS technology, on its Convey HC system. The algorithm was developed last year by researchers at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, and it combines short read sequences either from PacBio's circular consensus sequencing or short reads from other sequencing platforms with PacBio's long reads. Running the PacBioToCa algorithm on a Convey HC system speeds up the assembly process, according to the company.