Affordable Alternative that Offers Significant Savings for Labs Using Traditional Sequencing Methods

Bioservices has expanded its catalog with the addition of the Accuris SmartDye™ Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit. This high-quality, cost-effective reagent serves as a direct, plug-and-play replacement for Applied Biosystems™ BigDye™ Terminator v3.1, providing substantial savings to laboratories utilizing traditional Sanger sequencing methods.

While Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has become the dominant technology for large-scale genomic analysis, Sanger sequencing remains essential for specific applications where its strengths are unmatched. Researchers and clinical labs continue to rely on it for:

• High accuracy for individual sequences.
• Long read lengths up to 1,000 base pairs.
• Reliability for validation work.
• Gene variant confirmation and mutation detection.
• Quality control of NGS results and small-scale targeted sequencing projects.
• Mutation screening, clone verification, and gene synthesis validation.

Key Advantages of SmartDye™ Trademark Terminator v3.1

The SmartDye Terminator v3.1 is built on the same proven Sanger sequencing chemistry but is engineered for higher accuracy, longer read lengths, and superior performance on difficult templates. It is designed to be a direct replacement for BigDye™ without requiring changes to existing protocols or equipment.

Key benefits include:

• High-Accuracy Results: Delivers precise sequencing data for gene variant detection in both research and clinical diagnostic settings. Its optimized dye chemistry yields a high signal-to-noise ratio, facilitating clear and accurate interpretation of sequencing data.
• Significant Cost Savings: Priced substantially lower than competing Sanger sequencing reagents while maintaining quality standards (p. 2). Research has shown it performs well in smaller amounts—as little as 0.15µl in a 5µl total volume reaction—making it even more budget-friendly for high-volume labs.
• Improved Workflow Efficiency: It is fully protocol-compatible with BigDye™, allowing users to simply substitute SmartDye™ into their standard reactions. Faster reaction times (as little as 3 minutes) enable labs to increase throughput and meet project deadlines.
• Easy Integration: Designed to work seamlessly with existing Sanger sequencing workflows and equipment with minimal protocol adjustments and no need for recalibration or new mobility shift files.
• Robust Chemistry: The advanced dye chemistry provides robust performance across PCR products, plasmids, BACs, and fosmids. It is especially effective for challenging templates, including those with high GT repeat content, where competing chemistries often fail.

Product Configuration and Availability

The kit includes the SmartDye™ Terminator v3.1 Sequencing Mix, a proprietary mixture of fluorescently labeled dideoxynucleotide terminators, DNA polymerase, and a 5X optimized buffer.
It is supplied as a ready-to-use premix with a 5X buffer  and is available in multiple package sizes to accommodate various laboratory needs, from 24 to 25,000 reactions.

“The SmartDye™ Terminator v3.1 addresses a real need in the market,” said Anna Eidefors, CEO of Bioservices. “Many labs still require Sanger sequencing for critical applications, but face budget constraints with traditional reagent costs. By adding this Accuris product to our catalog, we’re giving researchers access to proven sequencing chemistry at a more accessible price point”.