18th Nov 2009

We regret to have to inform customers that we will be curtailing the short read option that we currently offer. This will happen as of 1st January 2010 and from that time onwards we will only offer a standard (long) read to customers.

The reason we have taken this decision is many-fold. The short read option was introduced when we bought our second 3730 sequencer with included GeneMapper functionality. GeneMapper runs had to use a short (36cm) array and so we decided to offer a short read option so that the machine was used for more than just GeneMapper runs. However, GeneMapper can now be performed on a standard 50cm array, so there is no need to have a machine set up with a 36cm array for this type of work. Additionally, the short read option makes up a small fraction of our total work and so we are finding that one machine is getting a lot less use than the other. To even out usage and speed up results delivery for customers, it makes sense to have both machines set up with a standard (50cm) array.

We apologise if this change to the portfolio of options that we provide causes inconvenience to any customers, but we have taken this decision since it will benefit the vast majority of our customers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this change.