The Ion AmpliSeq SARS CoV 2 Insight Research Assay - GS Chef-Ready is a quick, accurate, and comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay to enable research and surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including variants of concern, through complete genome sequencing. The intelligent panel design includes new primers that broaden the coverage for variants of concern and increase the sensitivity of the panel for improved detection from lower viral titer samples.

This version of the assay is for automated Ion Torrent Chef library preparation. For manual library preparation, please see Cat. No A51305.

Features of the Ion AmpliSeq SARS CoV 2 Insight Research Assay - GS Chef-Ready include:
• Helps broaden NGS epidemiological surveillance to cover emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants through panel design improvements
• Improved limit of detection from various sample types due to increased sensitivity
• Enables greater access to NGS to rapidly obtain epidemiological insights with rapid turn-around time, workflow
automation, and seamless informatics and data uploading to public SARS-CoV-2 data repositories

With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1) that may foreshadow increased transmissibility, disease severity, or impact on diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines, there is a critical need to sequence more SARS-CoV-2 samples. Researchers and public health agencies are leveraging Ion Torrent sequencing technology to discover, detect, and track emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Scientists must rapidly gain insights around the SARS-CoV-2 mutation rate, host infection risk, and viral spread in order to help reduce further impact of the virus.

The Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Insight Research Assay - GS Chef-Ready is part of an automated sample-to-variant report NGS workflow and provides >99% coverage of the viral genome and variants, including all serotypes. This panel consists of two pools of Ion AmpliSeq oligonucleotide primers specific to SARS-CoV-2, five human expression controls, and one Ion AmpliSeq Kit for Chef DL8. The addition of new variant-tolerant primers enable this panel to be more robust for future variant tolerance over time.

Sufficient reagents are provided for the rapid preparation of a 32 reaction library. The panel also includes a plug-in suite complete with intuitive analysis tools, helping make SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and epidemiology research accessible to labs regardless of NGS and informatics expertise.

The Ion AmpliSeq SARS CoV 2 Insight Research Assay - GS Chef-Ready is compatible with Torrent Suite Software 5.12 and later.