Nucleic acid sequencing system and method
AssigneeIllumina, Inc.
InventorsRobert C. Kain, David L. Heiner, Chanfeng Zhao, Kevin Gunderson
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Abstract
A technique for sequencing nucleic acids in an automated or semi-automated manner is disclosed. Sample arrays of a multitude of nucleic acid sites are processed in multiple cycles to add nucleotides to the material to be sequenced, detect the nucleotides added to sites, and to de-block the added nucleotides of blocking agents and tags used to identify the last added nucleotide. Multiple parameters of the system are monitored to enable diagnosis and correction of problems as they occur during sequencing of the samples. Quality control routines are run during sequencing to determine quality of samples, and quality of the data collected.
Claims20
A method for determining nucleotide sequences for a plurality of nucleic acids, comprising:
- (a) performing a cycle of a sequencing procedure for an array comprising a plurality of nucleic acids, wherein the cycle comprises directing radiation from a laser light source to the array at an exposure level and detecting fluorescence emission from the array at the exposure level;
- (b) increasing the exposure level of the radiation directed to the array to an increased exposure level that is higher than the exposure level;
- (c) performing another cycle of the sequencing procedure for the array comprising the plurality of nucleic acids, wherein said another cycle comprises directing radiation from the laser light source to the array at the increased exposure level and detecting fluorescence emission from the array at the increased exposure level;
- and
- (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) to perform several cycles of the sequencing procedure at an increased exposure level as compared to previous cycles of the sequencing procedure, thereby determining nucleotide sequences for the plurality of nucleic acids.
A system for determining nucleotide sequences for a plurality of nucleic acids, comprising:
- a fluidics handling system configured to perform cycles of a sequencing procedure for an array comprising a plurality of nucleic acids;
- a detection system configured to direct radiation from a laser light source to the array at an exposure level and to detect fluorescence emission from the array at the exposure level;
- and
- a system control interface configured to automatically modify the detection system to increase the exposure level of the radiation directed to the array to an increased exposure level and detect fluorescence emission from the array at the increased exposure level, wherein the system control interface is configured to automatically modify the detection system to increase the exposure level of the radiation directed to the array after each of a plurality of the cycles of the sequencing procedure has been performed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.