Technology & Capabilities

Our Equipment

World-Class Instrumentation

We invest continuously in the latest platforms to ensure our clients receive the highest quality data available anywhere.

Applied Biosystems 3730xl DNA Analyzer

The gold standard for Sanger sequencing and fragment analysis. Our fleet of four 3730xl analyzers provides 96-capillary parallel electrophoresis with industry-leading resolution. Each instrument is maintained under a Thermo Fisher Premier Service Agreement with quarterly PM visits and real-time performance monitoring.

96 capillaries per run Read lengths >900 bp 4 instruments in fleet 5-dye fluorescence detection POP-7 polymer standard Automated plate loading

QuantStudio 6 & 7 Pro Real-Time PCR Systems

Next-generation real-time PCR platforms for quantitative gene expression, genotyping, and pathogen detection. The QuantStudio 7 Pro features a 384-well block for high-throughput applications, while our QuantStudio 6 units handle routine 96-well assays with OpenArray compatibility for SNP genotyping.

96 and 384-well formats 6 excitation/emission filters Fast cycling mode (40 min) OpenArray compatible Melt curve analysis Cloud-connected analytics

Illumina NovaSeq 6000 & MiSeq Systems

Our NGS suite covers the full throughput spectrum. The NovaSeq 6000 with S4 flow cells delivers up to 3 Tb per run for whole genome and large-scale RNA-seq projects. The MiSeq provides targeted sequencing with rapid turnaround for amplicon panels, 16S metagenomics, and small genome assemblies.

Up to 3 Tb output (NovaSeq) 2×300 bp reads (MiSeq) Patterned flow cells DRAGEN on-board analysis BaseSpace integration <1% error rate

Hamilton STAR Liquid Handling Robot

High-precision automated liquid handling for sample normalization, library preparation, and reaction setup. Our Hamilton STAR with 96-channel head enables reproducible, walk-away workflows that minimize human error and improve consistency across thousands of samples processed per week.

96-channel simultaneous 0.5 µL precision Barcode tracking CO-RE tip technology Anti-contamination UV LIMS integrated

Quality Control

Our 5-Step QC Process

Every sample passes through our rigorous quality control pipeline before data is released to clients.

Sample Receipt

Barcode scanning, visual inspection, volume verification, and concentration measurement by NanoDrop and Qubit fluorometry.

Pre-Run QC

Gel electrophoresis or Bioanalyzer assessment of nucleic acid integrity. RIN scores calculated for RNA samples. DIN scores for gDNA.

Instrument Run

Positive and negative controls included on every run. Internal size standards and calibration verified before each instrument cycle.

Data Analysis

Automated basecalling with Phred quality scoring. Manual review of all chromatograms flagged below Q20 threshold by senior scientists.

Delivery & Archive

Data delivered via secure portal within stated turnaround time. All raw data archived for minimum 5 years per ISO 17025 requirements.

Bioinformatics

Data Analysis Pipeline

Our bioinformatics team provides comprehensive data analysis services for all NGS applications. We maintain validated, version-controlled pipelines built on industry-standard open-source tools integrated with proprietary quality assessment modules.

Alignment & Assembly

BWA-MEM2, STAR, Bowtie2, SPAdes, and MEGAHIT for read alignment and de novo assembly across diverse applications.

Variant Calling

GATK HaplotypeCaller, DeepVariant, FreeBayes, and Strelka2 for SNV, indel, and structural variant detection with joint genotyping.

Expression Analysis

DESeq2, edgeR, and Salmon for differential gene expression. Gene ontology enrichment, pathway analysis, and GSEA included.

Deliverables

Publication-ready figures, annotated VCF files, interactive HTML reports, and raw data in FASTQ/BAM format via secure download.

Speed

Turnaround Time Comparison

See how Monte Biotech's turnaround times compare to industry averages.

Service	Industry Average	Monte Biotech Standard	Monte Biotech Rush
Sanger Sequencing	3-5 business days	24-48 hours	Same day
Fragment Analysis	5-7 business days	2-3 days	24 hours
qPCR	7-10 business days	3-5 days	2 days
SNP Genotyping	10-14 business days	5-7 days	3 days
NGS (WGS 30×)	4-8 weeks	2-4 weeks	10 days
Cell Line Auth (STR)	7-10 business days	3-5 days	24 hours

Getting Started

Sample Submission Guidelines

Follow these guidelines to ensure optimal results and fastest turnaround time for your samples.

DNA Samples

Sanger Sequencing: Minimum 200 ng plasmid DNA or 500 ng PCR product in 12 µL water or EB buffer. A260/280 ratio between 1.8-2.0. No EDTA or high salt concentrations. Ship at room temperature for overnight delivery or on dry ice for extended transit.

Fragment Analysis: Fluorescently labeled PCR products in 10 µL Hi-Di formamide. Include size standard information in submission form.

RNA Samples

qPCR / RNA-Seq: Minimum 200 ng total RNA in RNase-free water. RIN ≥ 7.0 required for RNA-seq applications (RIN ≥ 5.0 acceptable for FFPE samples). Ship on dry ice via overnight courier. Include RNase inhibitor if ambient temperature exceeds 25°C during transit.

Storage: Samples stored at -80°C upon receipt. 30-day retention policy after data delivery.

Shipping & Ordering

Online Portal: Register at our client portal to submit orders, track samples, and download results 24/7. Barcoded sample labels generated automatically upon order submission.

Local Drop-off: Austin clients can drop samples at our front desk Monday–Friday 8AM–5PM. Same-day processing guaranteed for samples received before 2PM CST.

Shipping: Use FedEx or UPS overnight service. Include cold packs for temperature-sensitive samples. Pre-paid return labels available.