Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Partners with Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics on Next Generation DNA Sequencing

Indianapolis & Phoenix (July 2, 2021) – As Next Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS) continues to gain traction in scientific research and clinical use, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is leading the way to pioneer efficient workflows to unleash the power of new scientific discovery methods in laboratories of all sizes.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences announced today the results of a collaboration with Arizona-based Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics to identify new methodology and research possibilities to fuel scientific research and discovery. The work focused on establishing high-throughput and flexible protocols and assays, particularly for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Echo 525 Liquid Handler answered the call, delivering a powerful, automated solution for molecular biology as Fry Labs and BioID Genomics developed an assay and streamlined workflows, reduced reagent consumption, and miniaturized reactions using tipless, acoustic liquid handling with the Echo 525 Liquid Handler.

“The Echo is able to take what would normally be 51 workhours on the front end of sequencing and reduces it to 20 minutes,” said Judy Joseph, CEO of Fry Laboratories. “This revolutionizes the sequencing workflow in a way that is game changing.”

Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics developed an NGS assay to use in the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The assay relies on more than 200 unique PCR primers to effectively process 1,152 saliva samples simultaneously. Assembling the pre-sequencing PCR reactions is streamlined as the Echo 525 Liquid Handler can dispense reagents in 25 nL increments and at scale. The workflows aimed at identification of new genetic variants can be implemented with ease using the Echo Liquid Handler.

“Imagine our surprise as we realized the Echo single-handedly unlocked an entirely new level of targeted sequencing applications,” said Jeremy Ellis, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for BioID Genomics and Fry Laboratories. “No reaction is too complex. No PCR assembly is too laborious. We no longer fear assays with hundreds or thousands of unique primers. The Echo can simply print PCR mixes on demand, in volume and rapidly. Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is a trusted leader across the biosciences community and is synonymous with quality in the industry. We can trust that the products will perform and that the support is there.”

The Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics SARS-CoV-2 assay is being supplemented with additional data collection from using the Echo 525 Liquid Handler for submittal for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with evaluation by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) program.

“Our products are designed to give researchers the critical tools they need to accelerate answers to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Mike Musgnug, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Vice President and General Manager of the Biotechnology Business Unit. “We’re thrilled with the success Fry Labs and BioID Genomics recorded using our Echo 525 Liquid Handler and are proud to partner with them on this important venture.”

This work is personal for the CEO of Fry Laboratories, who transitioned from a judicial career to a scientific career after her daughter became gravely ill after an international trip.

“Months of misdiagnoses and a potential heart transplant were eliminated using NGS,” Judy Joseph explained. “The difficulty in diagnosis is that you can only routinely grow 2% of bacteria. Culturing bacteria and trying to grow it in a petri dish was invented in the 1800’s. The other 98% of bacteria that can infect you, like it did my daughter, is novel and uncultivatable. What we do for sequencing – and with NGS – is find those novel and uncultivatable bacteria that can cause disease. Why are we using 1800’s technology in 2021?  We are really indebted to Beckman Coulter Life Sciences for their technology and innovations that make sequencing so doable and affordable. They are an invaluable partner.”

The Echo 525 Acoustic Liquid Handler is the first rapid acoustic liquid handler designed specifically for biochemical and genomics reagent transfer. To learn more visit beckman.com/liquid-handlers/echo-525.

About Beckman Coulter Life Sciences

Life sciences. Research. Precision manufacturing. If your life’s calling is in any of these or related fields, you need to know Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. Our mission is to empower those seeking answers to life’s important scientific and healthcare questions. Since 1935, the Beckman name has been synonymous with technologies that simplify and automate complex biomedical testing. Decades later, our global organization also came to embody the scientific legacy of the Coulter name. Today, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is a trusted, worldwide resource for tools to help optimize research and manufacturing efficiency. Centrifuges. Particle counters/analyzers. Automated liquid handlers. Flow cytometers. Genomic reagents. All these products—and many more—continue to make a difference in people’s lives by improving the productivity of dedicated scientists, quality control experts and others. Wherever people need answers, from prestigious universities and major pharmaceutical companies, to small biotech startups, food/beverage and electronics manufacturing facilities, you can find Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. For more details, visit beckman.com/contact-us

About Fry Labs and BioID Genomics

Fry Laboratories is an independent clinical diagnostics and research laboratory located in Scottsdale, Ariz., operating clinically since 2007. Fry Laboratories develops and provides clinical services utilizing advanced and patented next generation DNA sequencing technologies. BioID Genomics, an affiliate of Fry Laboratories, is a company focused on bringing many of the patented technological innovations developed by Fry Laboratories toother labs in order reduce the technical hurdles for NGS adoption and deployment. BioID Genomics launched its flagship 16S Microbial ID Kit which allows for seamless sample to result identification of all bacteria with an Illumina MiSeq early in 2020; however, both Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics have targeted SARS-CoV-2 for the next round of assays, technologies, and products. Fry Laboratories and BioID Genomics are committed to developing and distributing robust and integrated assays and bioinformatics. The microbiology NGS revolution is our primary focus. For more information visit frylabs.com and bioidgenomics.com.

 

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences liquid handlers are not intended or validated for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions.

Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, and the Beckman Coulter product and service marks mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

ECHO is a trademark or registered trademark of Labcyte Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.