PacBio announces Vega SPRQ-Nx chemistry: 90 Gb per run at 40% lower cost, 500 ng DNA input

Pacific Biosciences (PacBio)/Vega HiFi Long-Read Sequencing

Pacific Biosciences released SPRQ-Nx chemistry for its Vega benchtop sequencer, increasing output from 60 Gb to 90 Gb per run (50% increase) while reducing the U.S. list price from $1,100 to $995 per run, lowering cost per gigabase by 40%. DNA input requirements dropped from 2 µg to as low as 500 ng, making the system more accessible to smaller labs.

• Vega SPRQ-Nx increases data output to 90 Gb per run, a 50% gain over previous chemistry.
• Per-run cost decreased from $1,100 to $995, with per-gigabase cost down 40%.
• DNA input requirement reduced to 500 ng minimum, down from 2 µg, enabling studies with limited samples.
• New features include 2-hour and 4-hour run options for time-sensitive applications.
• Compliance features added: user login, audit tracking, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) detection for epigenetic analysis.