MicroGenDX Adopts Illumina i100 Plus to Deliver Faster, More Reliable NGS Result
At-a-Glance: What the i100 Plus Means for Your Practice
- NGS results in 24 hours after sample receipt, with an 80% faster turnaround, creating faster molecular diagnostics that keep pace with in-house PCR panel processing.
- 4x greater sequencing depth improves detection of low-abundance/low-frequency microbes for more complete microbial visibility.
- More data per sequencing read increases reliability of results and confidence in microbial detection.
- A single, combined report delivers both qPCR and NGS results at once.
- Quickens timeline for precision clinical decision-making across urology, ENT, OB/GYN, wound care, and other specialties.
In infectious disease diagnostics, time is more than a number — it’s clinical leverage. Every day a provider waits for lab results is a day spent relying on empiric therapies, risking unnecessary antibiotics, delayed interventions, or prolonged hospital stays.
That’s why MicroGenDX is proud to integrate the Illumina MiSeq i100 Plus into our clinical workflows. This powerful new platform enables NGS testing within 24 hours of sample receipt, delivering up to 80% faster turnaround of results compared to our prior MiSeq-based system, without sacrificing reliability.
With this upgrade, providers can expect faster answers, a simplified reporting experience, and increased confidence in diagnosing complex or treatment-resistant infections.
Speed That Supports Clinical Action
Traditional NGS workflows, such as our prior system, required 3 to 5 days to deliver results. That delay often meant patients were treated empirically while physicians waited for confirmation or pursued speedier alternatives like in-house PCR panels.
The Illumina i100 Plus changes that. With sequencing runs completed in as soon as 12 hours, MicroGenDX can now report results the next day after sample receipt, enabling providers to:
- Transition from empiric to precision-targeted treatments sooner
- Discontinue ineffective antibiotics earlier, improving stewardship efforts
- Make informed decisions on discharge, escalation, or surgery faster
- Manage chronic or recurrent infections with greater microbe-level clarity
Whether you’re treating outpatient sinusitis or managing a septic inpatient with orthopedic hardware, quicker NGS reporting reduces uncertainty when it matters most.
What’s New with the i100 Plus?
Beyond turnaround time, the i100 Plus enables major performance improvements:
- 4x greater sequencing depth
Up to 100 million reads per run (vs. 25M previously) increases microbial DNA yield, that improves detection of low-abundance, low-frequency, fastidious, or partially suppressed organisms. - Single report delivery
As qPCR and NGS result timelines are synced, the combined results will now arrive in one easy-to-interpret report – reducing friction for lab staff and streamlining your clinical decision-making.
Reliability That Reduces Re-Runs
Low-yield samples, insufficient DNA, or borderline quality scores previously led to occasional test re-runs and reporting delays.
With the i100 Plus’s expanded data read depth, our lab has seen improvements in first-pass success rate, leading to:
- Fewer reruns and recollection requests
- Greater report consistency across sample types
- Reduced delay-driven impact on patient care
This reliability boost directly addresses a key operational concern for hospitals and clinical reference labs relying on timely results.
Built to Ease Lab and Clinical Workflow
Our team heard your feedback. One of the most consistent pain points we’ve addressed is our dual-report format. The new single-report format combines qPCR and NGS results, eliminating the need to reconcile separate files or manage reporting delays.
This improves efficiency for:
- Hospital lab technicians who process and distribute results to care teams
- Ordering providers managing high case volumes and complex infections
- Clinical staff tracking multiple patients and labs per day
It also means less phone tag, fewer clarification requests, and faster translation of lab data into action.
Real-World Scenarios Where Time and Depth Matter
Whether outpatient or inpatient, these are the cases where speed, depth, and clarity are critical:
- Recurrent UTIs or prostatitis where empiric antibiotics have failed
- Chronic sinusitis with inconclusive cultures or polymicrobial involvement
- ENT, OB/GYN, or urology cases involving rare or resistant organisms
- Post-surgical or wound infections with hardware or biofilm suspicion
- Patients with prior antibiotic exposure and low-abundance pathogen profiles
In these multiple specialty scenarios, next-day insight supports stronger, speedier decision-making.
Operational Gains, Institutional Impact
Hospitals, clinics, and large practices will also benefit from improved lab efficiency:
- Run-to-run flexibility: Shorter cycles = more batches/day to meet needs of our larger hospital and clinic partners
- Lower repeat testing volume: Thanks to more reliable output per run with increased sequencing depth
- Streamlined onboarding: Intuitive UI and plug-and-play workflow mean faster ramp-up for lab staff, reducing time between runs
What to Expect At Launch
Beginning July 7th, all MicroGenDX targeted NGS testing will be powered by the Illumina i100 Plus platform, including panels for:
- UTIs and prostatitis
- ENT and sinus infections
- Vaginitis and BV
- Wound and bone infections
- Respiratory infections (e.g., BAL, sputum)
- CSF, synovial fluid, and other sterile site testing
Our qPCR-only Rapid panels remain unchanged.
Final Word: A New Standard for Infectious Disease Diagnostics
The Illumina i100 Plus marks a major step forward in our mission to support clinicians with actionable, high-confidence molecular insights — delivered faster, more reliably, and more efficiently than ever before.
We’re proud to bring this capability to your practice and to your patients.
Want to Learn More?
Check out our one-pager on the i100 Plus!
or
Have questions or want to get started?
Contact your sales rep or call us at: 1-855-208-0019 (M-F, 8 AM – 8 PM)
