With the launch of our brand new multiplex HLA amplification product NGSgo-MX11-3, it is time to learn and discover more about this unique product! We have asked our Project Managers R&D Sake van Wageningen and Bram Luiken to highlight why MX11-3 is the product you have been waiting for…
Bram and Sake, you have been working on the development of the new Multiplex product of GenDx, called NGSgo®-MX11-3. At the moment, GenDx already has a multiplex in its portfolio, NGSgo®-MX6-1, why should we choose MX11-3?
MX11-3 is the latest addition to the GenDx HLA typing product line and is designed to be the new ‘flagship’ amplification product. The product incorporates a lot of frequently requested updates to our amplification products, greatly extending coverage, increased ease of use and high data quality.
Sounds like an excellent addition to the product line! If our customers order MX11-3, what will they find in the product kit?
The kit contains three highly optimized multiplex amplification primer-sets, each with their own reconstitution buffer for dissolving the primers the first time the kit goes into use. Primers and their corresponding buffer have the same cap colour for ease-of-use.
Additionally, you will find tubes of water and Longmix, the only reagent needed for amplification outside of the primers.
You are referring to three multiplex amplification primer-sets. You might be aware that other companies have all 11 loci in 1 tube. Why did GenDx choose to work with 11 loci in 3 tubes, what are the advantages?
The use of 3 tubes allows optimal data quality by separating amplicons and amplification primers that are most prone to generation of hybrid reads or pseudogene/dimer artefacts. This greatly reduces the noise levels in data analysis and allows high mappability compared to one tube approaches. The aim was to generate a simple protocol with the highest data quality so your patients end up with the best possible typing result.
You mentioned that the product is easy to use. Why?
NGSgo-MX11-3 amplification mixtures consist of only 3 components in easy to handle volumes, while all 11 genes are amplified using a single cycling program. Immediately after amplification, equal volumes of each mix are used for pooling (1:1:1) followed by a fixed volume input of 2µl into the NGSgo library preparation workflow. This means that you do not have to quantify your amplicons. The product is designed in conjunction with NGSgo library preparation and NGSengine® analysis has been optimized to analyse MX11-3 data.
What about coverage? Is it correct that MX11-3 has whole-gene coverage?
The NGSgo-MX11-3 has an increased coverage as compared to the traditional amplification strategies. It combines optimized versions of previously available AmpX v2 whole gene amplifications for HLA class I, as well as DRB1, DRB3, DQB1, DQA1 and DPB1. New are whole gene amplifications for DRB5 and DPA1 and improved coverage of DRB4 exon2 and 3 in 1 amplicon.
Thank you very much for these interesting insights in the new products MX11-3. Last but not least we are very eager to know, when can we start using MX11-3?
NGSgo®-MX11-3 is expected to be ready for shipment early October, 2020 (RUO). You can already place your order, contact your local GenDx representative for more information.
