Illumina unveils upgraded genome sequence service

PBR Staff Writer Published 12 September 2012

Illumina has introduced its rapid Individual Genome Sequencing (IGS) service with a turnaround time in as little as two weeks.

The IGS service uses Illumina's HiSeq 2500 sequencing system, which is capable of completing a sequencing run on a whole human genome in one day.

The service, which is available only through a physician's order, is designed to assist clinicians with diagnosis and treatment decisions, according to Illumina.

The services have also been implemented in Illumina's CLIA-certified laboratory to enable the same fast turnaround for the IGS service.

Illumina President and CEO Jay Flatley said Illumina has long believed that sequencing will become a mainstream practice in the clinical setting.

"Whole genome sequencing is quickly gaining recognition for its potential in diagnostics and treatment decisions, particularly in cases where physicians are challenged with identifying a disorder based on symptoms that don't quite fit with a known disease,'' Flatley added.

"When this happens, rapid whole-genome sequencing can provide big-picture information about genetic makeup, enabling physicians to make more informed decisions and patients to obtain answers more quickly."

Illumina is also working on a suite of analytic tools and professional services in collaboration with physicians and medical geneticists to improve clinical interpretation.

CHOC Hyundai Cancer Institute medical director Leonard Sender said,"Illumina has delivered on the promise of personalized healthcare by notonly enabling clinical interrogation of the whole genome, but also providing theresults in a turnaround time consistent with the demands of patient care."

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Illumina unveils upgraded genome sequence service