Hi Simon! You can definitely use the MinION nanopore sequencer for checking plasmid integrity using the amplicon approach. I do think that it could be appropriate for a fast sequence of long amplicons. However, if you are planning to check only short-size amplicons, then by using a Nanopore sequencer, you will basically obtain Sanger sequencing results but with 100,000 reads coverage instead of 2.

The basic starter pack costs $1,000 and includes the sequencer itself, 2 flowcells, and reagents to prepare 6 libraries for sequencing. You will also might want to use barcodes to multiplex samples together.

- Flowcells can be reusable. Flonge flowcell costs $90, MinION flowcell - $900 or cheaper if bought in bulk;

- Ligation kit (6 reactions) - $600 + approximately $900 for the required reagents;

- Barcode Expansion kit (12 barcodes, 6 libraries per barcode) - $288.

So this would be the approximate cost on top of your usual expenses for extraction, PCR, bead purification, and fluorometric quantification.

Dear Irynba, thank you very much. I'll pass this onto the team. I think it's probably overkill for plasmid, by the looks of it.

Best wishes, Simon

Hello Simon N Waddington

You can try the Rapid Barcoding Kit which doesn't require any additional third party reagents unlike the Ligation Sequencing Kit which requires expensive additional third party reagents. However, the rapid kit will cause reduction in throughput. But, If you are looking for only bacterial species identification the 16S Barcoding Kit (1-24) which provides 24 barcodes (No third party reagents required) and along with the Flongle flow cell for a cost effective solution of $10 per sample. Multiplexing with greater number of barcodes is only key for cost effective nanopore sequencing. For the Flongle flow cell you also need to purchase the Flongle adapter which will come as an intro pack consting $1,860.00 and comprising of the adapter and 12 Flongle flow cells. You can directly contact Oxford Nanopore for your queries they are very helpful.