Apollo 300 System

MBI is developing the Apollo 300, a fully integrated and automated library preparation solution, to address the emerging Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) library preparation bottleneck. Today, the generation of DNA libraries (Paired-End DNA or Mate-Paired DNA) or RNA libraries (RNASeq) that are used to feed NGS sequencers is a time consuming manual process. It can take up to 2½ days, and extensive ‘hands on’ time, to prepare a single library. This tedious methodology has prevented most researchers from preparing more than four libraries in parallel. With the use of barcodes on the horizon, the number of libraries that will need to be prepared in the future will be much greater; as many as 96 libraries per run of a NGS sequencer.

MBI’s solution for NGS library preparation is similar in concept to MBI’s first product—the Apollo 100 using a fully automated system that integrates sample handling, low volume fluidics (with patented MOVe™ technology microchips), and optimized MBI-Certified™ reagents on a small bench top system. The Apollo 300 will enable researchers to process from 8 to 96 samples in parallel using less reagents, getting better quality libraries than manual methods can produce and do it in less time.

MBI is currently seeking research groups to collaborate with, or provide input into MBI’s NGS library preparation solution; please email for information on the Apollo 300 development project.