NGS has reshaped how clinical research laboratories detect and monitor hematological malignancies, inherited disease variants, and solid tumor biomarkers, but the sequencer itself has long outpaced what comes before it. Library preparation is the recognized upstream bottleneck: fragmenting DNA, adding adaptors, and enriching for target regions takes four to eight hours manually and introduces variability that ripples through to sequencing output. As sample volumes grow, the gap between sequencer throughput and upstream preparation capacity becomes a hard constraint on what any lab can deliver.
OGT is targeting that gap with new automation capabilities across its SureSeq NGS portfolio, compatible with the Hamilton NGS STAR Line. Developed with laboratory partners and workflow specialists, the integration automates the most labor-intensive library preparation stages, cutting hands-on time and supporting higher-throughput batch processing without additional staff.
SureSeq NGS automation: what changes for the lab
OGT's Universal NGS Complete Workflow, which underpins the SureSeq hematology and CytoSure inherited disease panels, previously cut hands-on library preparation time by 40 percent relative to the company's prior workflow. The Hamilton NGS STAR Line integration automates the same multi-step chemistry at higher throughput, extending those efficiency gains to batches of 48 to 96 samples per run. A peer-reviewed study of hybridization-capture NGS automation found that walk-away liquid handling reduces variability and substantially enhances throughput compared with manual workflows; actual gains will vary by laboratory configuration and sample type.
OGT launched its SureSeq Myeloid MRD Plus NGS Panel in November 2025 for measurable residual disease (MRD) detection in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). According to OGT's product specifications, it covers 16 biomarkers including FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITDs) exceeding 300 base pairs and NPM1 mutations, with stated detection down to 0.01 percent allele frequency.
For hematological malignancy labs running high sample volumes, the SureSeq NGS platform reduces the time between sample receipt and sequencing-ready libraries without adding staff or compromising variant detection sensitivity:
- Hardware compatibility: NGS STAR and NGS STAR MOA configurations on the Hamilton NGS STAR Line
- Panel scope: multiple SureSeq hematological malignancy NGS panels
- Turnaround: same-day library preparation workflows
- Error reduction: automated handling at the manual-intensive stages most prone to variability
- Bioinformatics: OGT's Interpret software for variant analysis and MRD visualization, included at no additional cost
Why hybrid capture suits automation
Hybrid capture library preparation proceeds through a defined sequence of steps that liquid handling automation handles with particular reliability. The workflow hybridizes biotinylated RNA baits to target regions in a fragmented DNA library, then captures the bound sequences using streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. Hybridization, washing, and bead handling all require precise timing and temperature control; these are precisely the stages where manual variability degrades coverage uniformity.
The Hamilton NGS STAR Line supports the SureSeq hybrid capture workflow through CO-RE II Technology (a compressed O-ring expansion tip attachment system), an on-deck thermal cycler (ODTC) for walk-away incubation, and integrated barcode readers for sample and reagent traceability. Optional laboratory information management system (LIMS) connectivity links library preparation data directly to downstream analysis pipelines.
NGS automation across the genomics industry
Automated library preparation has become a growing focus across the genomics field, with reagent suppliers and platform providers forming workflow agreements to deliver complete, validated solutions. These partnerships span multiple sequencing modalities and application areas, driven by a consistent shift: as sequencer throughput and data quality have improved, library preparation has emerged as the rate-limiting step.
Access to automation has also broadened. Earlier platforms required large batch sizes and high capital investment, limiting adoption to high-volume centralized facilities. Instruments now span compact systems for 24-sample batches up to high-throughput platforms processing 96 at once, extending automated library preparation to a wider range of lab sizes.
As NGS automation access widens, SureSeq NGS panels are validated across both Hamilton NGS STAR Line configurations — covering labs from moderate to high sample throughput:
| Automation approach | SureSeq NGS compatibility | Throughput | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated NGS liquid handler (Hamilton NGS STAR Line) | Yes: SureSeq hematological malignancy panels | 48–96 samples per run | High-volume clinical research, hematological oncology |
| Compact benchtop automation (Hamilton NGS STARlet) | Yes: lower-volume SureSeq workflows | Up to 24 samples per run | Moderate-throughput or priority-sample labs |
| Integrated microfluidic systems | Not applicable | Low to moderate | Low-input or specialized sample types |
| Manual preparation | Not applicable | Typically up to 48 samples per day | Low-volume labs without automation infrastructure |
Adrian Smith, CEO of OGT, framed the automation capability in terms of laboratory capacity. "NGS automation is essential for high-volume labs to get the most out of their NGS analysis," Smith said. "By removing labour-intensive manual steps, labs can dramatically increase capacity, improve reproducibility and consistency allowing them to focus their teams where it matters most."
Throughput and reproducibility in hematological malignancy research
Demand for hematological malignancy genomics continues to push library preparation capacity in clinical research labs. MRD monitoring in AML now favors frequent, longitudinal sampling to guide treatment decisions, multiplying the number of preparation runs per patient per study. Myeloid fusion gene detection and comprehensive genomic profiling in hematological cancers add comparable pressure.
Automated NGS library preparation addresses throughput and reproducibility in the same step. Consistent variant calling across runs, batches, and operators is a baseline requirement in clinical research genomics, and manual library preparation is a known source of inter-operator variability. Moving error-sensitive steps off the bench is a quality control gain as much as a productivity one.
From bottleneck to baseline: NGS automation in practice
SureSeq NGS automation gives clinical research labs a route to higher throughput, more consistent results, and same-day library preparation turnaround, without proportional increases in staff or floor space. OGT's integration with the Hamilton NGS STAR Line brings that capability to hematological malignancy panels, combining hybrid capture chemistry, targeted biomarker coverage, and Interpret bioinformatics in a single validated workflow. As demand for longitudinal MRD monitoring and comprehensive genomic profiling grows, automated library preparation is becoming a standard operational expectation rather than a throughput upgrade.
This article is based on a press release issued by OGT and was produced under Drug Discovery News' AI Editorial Guidelines.
