Illumina has launched a new benchtop next-generation sequencing (NGS) system designed to be more accessible for use in smaller labs.

NGS is a high-throughput approach to DNA sequencing that has largely superseded the traditional electrophoresis-based Sanger method.

Releasing in two versions, Illumina claims its MiSeq i100 and MiSeq i100 Plus systems are capable of 25 million and 100 million single end reads per run respectively, and produce results within four hours, four times faster than the previous MiSeq system released in 2011.

The new MiSeq systems come in a much smaller form factor than the former version, and the reagents used in the system can now be shipped and stored at room temperature, which Illumina said will mitigate labs’ cold chain storage requirements and the need to thaw reagents before use.

MiSeq i100 incorporates the XLEAP-SBS technology found in Illumina’s NovaSeq X sequencing system to process more samples. The system can be used for small whole-genome sequencing for microbiology and targeted NGS panels for infectious disease and oncology, with workflow metrics provided either directly on the instrument or via Illumina’s cloud-based DRAGEN genomic data analysis, which the company said will minimise the need for bioinformatics expertise.

“Our customers told us they need a faster, smaller, and easy-to-use instrument, and that’s what we’re delivering with the MiSeq i100,” said Illumina CEO Jacob Thaysen.

“Whether you are an established NGS lab, or looking to start sequencing for the first time, our latest benchtop instrument adds the plug-and-play flexibility that today's labs are seeking.”

The company said it will begin shipping the system globally in 2025.

According to GlobalData, there are 127 NGS test devices in active stages of development globally, with the market forecast to reach a valuation of $5.1bn by 2033.

GlobalData analysts state that automation will play a crucial role in facilitating the acceptance and integration of NGS into routine medical practice as the demand for diagnostic NGS testing increases.

Alongside Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent Technologies are among the leaders in the NGS analyser and reagents space.