MGI Announces First Customer For MGISEQ-T7, Complete Genomics Accuracy Tech

January 11, 2019 | At the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference this week, MGI, a subsidiary of global genomics leader BGI Group, announced its first early access customer for the MGISEQ-T7, announced an MGI global sequencer user program, and updated numbers for the product install base. The company released a statement summarizing the presentation. 

WeGene is the first early access customer for the MGISEQ-T7, announced in October. The company provides direct-to-consumer genetics testing in China, and plans to complete more than 40,000 whole genomes sequenced this year and more than 120,000 whole genomes sequenced in 2020 in the DTC market. 

 

MGI also announced the MGI global sequencer user program to support collaborators to begin using the T7. 

 

In October, MGI launched the MGISEQ-T7, a highly flexible, production-scale platform that can produce as many as 60 whole human genomes in one day, driving down sequencing cost to $5 per gigabyte. The instrument sells for $1 million. 

 

MGI also introduced two key technologies that help deliver even greater accuracy. MGI’s DNBseq patented technology from Complete Genomics uses rolling circle replication and patterned array technology. Combined with PCR-free sample preparation method, this total solution delivers more accurate sequencing data, with enhanced and stable performance. 

 

Powered by DNBseq, MGISEQ delivers quality data with accuracy for SNP and Indel calling rate of 99.9% and 99%, respectively, along with decreased duplication rate down to less than 2%, and almost zero Index mis-assignment rate.

 

MGI’s single-tube long fragment read (stLFR) technology, which can generate short reads and long reads in one library in a single run, is a new method that delivers an even more accurate WGS, significantly reduces the cost and simplifies the process of preparing samples. The stLFR technology enables high-quality mutation detection, diploid genome phasing, structural variation analysis and other long-length applications.

 

At the conference, Yu reported that MGI has delivered over 1,000 sequencers to more than 250 users in 16 countries by the end of 2018. It has grown to 800 employees and is building up sales support teams and centers across the world. MGI also has more than 240 patents granted globally. In the China market, MGI has six different sequencers licensed, and a market share of 35%. The MGI platform is gaining support around the world, with more than 135 publications using MGI sequencers and over 20 petabytes of data generated.

 

Besides its sequencer product portfolio, MGI discussed its portfolio of automated sample preparation workstations, and the MGISP workstations series for sample preparation, MegaBOLT series of products for accelerating bioinformatics analysis, and ZLIMS software system for lab management with NGS sequencing process. 

 

The company also announced a global partnership with Paragon Genomics, a leader in amplicon-based target enrichment and library preparation solutions for next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays. MGI will distribute Paragon Genomics’ CleanPlex NGS Panels for use with MGI’s sequencing platforms in all territories worldwide except the U.S., and Paragon Genomics will distribute MGI’s automated sample preparation workstation systems in the U.S. and Canada.