SPT Labtech has entered a strategic collaboration with Illumina to develop an automated sample preparation platform designed to support genomics workflows in decentralised healthcare settings.

The companies said the platform will streamline and standardise next-generation sequencing workflows for laboratories using Illumina’s MiSeq i100 system, with an initial focus on supporting oncology testing closer to the point of care.

The move reflects growing demand from hospital and regional laboratories seeking to bring sequencing operations in-house rather than relying on large core facilities. By integrating automated sample preparation with the MiSeq i100 benchtop sequencer, the partners aim to enable smaller labs to achieve levels of precision and reproducibility typically associated with high-throughput centres.

Rob Walton, chief executive officer at SPT Labtech, said: “This next phase of collaboration with Illumina reflects our shared focus on enabling efficient and accessible genomics workflows, further expanding SPT Labtech’s presence in the clinical genomics market. With the rapid global adoption of Illumina’s MiSeq i100 platform and the recent shipment of its 1,000th system, there is a growing demand from laboratories seeking to perform their sequencing operations in-house, thereby maximizing control and reducing turnaround times. By combining our expertise in automation and sequencing, we are well positioned to help laboratories adopt advanced genomics workflows within decentralized healthcare settings.”

The companies did not disclose financial terms of the collaboration or a timeline for commercial launch.

Illumina said the MiSeq i100 system is intended to make next-generation sequencing more accessible to laboratories worldwide by offering a compact, benchtop format suitable for smaller clinical environments. The addition of a dedicated automated sample preparation solution could address one of the more labour-intensive steps in genomic testing workflows, particularly in oncology where rapid turnaround is increasingly prioritised.

Todd Christian, senior vice president of services, arrays, and genomic access at Illumina, added: “Labs around the world rely on Illumina for high-quality, reliable insights and end-to-end workflows that make it easier for them to unlock crucial genomic insights faster. This collaboration builds on that history and doubles down on our commitment to expand access to next-generation sequencing for labs of all sizes, ultimately enabling researchers and clinicians to drive breakthroughs that matter for the patients they serve.”

The announcement builds on an existing partnership between the companies, which previously included development of automated library preparation methods on SPT Labtech’s firefly platform.

As oncology diagnostics continue to shift towards precision medicine models, vendors are increasingly targeting decentralised hospital laboratories with automation tools designed to reduce hands-on time, standardise processes and shorten time to result.