NEOonsite assays automated on the Hamilton NGS STAR

Based on an automation protocol developed in the course of the project, the NGS STAR workstation allowed for nearly full automation of the NEOonsite wet lab workflow including ondeck PCR cycling and hybridization, bead based purifications and stringent washing at elevated temperatures post hybridization, resulting in efficient target enrichment. The protocol was programmed aiming for high user flexibility, being able to start and end the process at various protocol steps. Thus, sample numbers can be adjusted in one sample increment and different NEOonsite assays can be processed in parallel. The need for user interventions could be limited to optimize walk-away time for laboratory staff. The automation protocol produced sequence-ready libraries. It is available from Hamilton as a method qualified by NEO New Oncology.