SPT Labtech and Twist Bioscience Team-up to Automate NGS Library Prep Workflows

SPT Labtech has rolled out new automated workflows for Twist Bioscience’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) library preparation kits on its firefly liquid handling platform, aiming to boost throughput and consistency for genomics laboratories.

Developed in collaboration with Twist, the validated methods are accessible via the firefly cloud and support Twist’s FlexPrep UHT Library Preparation Kit as well as the company’s Enzymatic Fragmentation Kit 2.0. According to SPT Labtech, the workflows address growing demand from research and core facilities for standardised, hands-free NGS protocols as sequencing volumes continue to scale.

The automated FlexPrep workflow integrates on-deck fragmentation and ligation, alongside an auto-normalising protocol that consolidates indexing and final clean-up into four columns of a 96-well plate. The company says this supports higher throughput without requiring access to 384-well thermal cyclers, while also improving reproducibility across samples.

In parallel, the integration of Twist’s Enzymatic Fragmentation Kit 2.0 with firefly is intended to offer an efficient sequencing pipeline with reduced error rates and more accurate readouts. SPT Labtech expects ongoing combinations of Twist kits with firefly to expand its catalogue of validated, ready-to-deploy automated workflows.

Rob Walton, Chief Executive Officer at SPT Labtech, said: “We are delighted to be working with Twist Bioscience to bring these high-demand methods to our customers. By making these Twist workflows available on firefly, we are giving users a straightforward way to adopt automation without adding complexity to their existing processes, while access through the firefly cloud allows laboratories to implement these methods quickly and scale as their needs evolve.”

Emily Leproust, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Twist Bioscience, added: “Our customers are increasingly seeking validated, hands-free solutions to improve the efficiency and reproducibility of their NGS workflows. By collaborating with SPT Labtech, we are providing a simple path to automation for our kits, beginning with our new FlexPrep kit, which offers significant benefits in terms of speed and scalability."

The workflows are available immediately to firefly users via the firefly cloud. The collaboration reflects a broader trend towards workflow simplification and automation in sequencing, driven by mounting sample volumes and tightening turnaround expectations across research and clinical settings. As libraries become faster and more consistent to prepare, bottlenecks increasingly shift upstream or downstream of sequencing itself. By validating Twist’s kits on firefly and making the methods instantly accessible through the cloud, SPT Labtech is positioning automation as a turnkey choice rather than a complex engineering project.