DNA sequencing and array-based technology firm Illumina has unveiled a suite of advancements that will accelerate the next era of genomic discovery.
Unveiled at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) 2026 conference, the announcements include the launch of TruPath Genome, a new standard in genomic insight; a groundbreaking roadmap for the NovaSeq X Series; and new partner-driven cancer breakthroughs powered by Illumina's spatial and multiomic technologies.
Illumina's launch of TruPath Genome sets a new standard for high-quality, comprehensive whole genome insights for genetic disease. TruPath Genome has been found to deliver unparalleled accuracy and resolution – even across so-called ‘dark regions’ of the genome – providing researchers with a more complete picture of genomic alterations implicated in genetic disease.
With an incredibly simple workflow, TruPath Genome eliminates traditional library prep. In just 10-15 minutes of hands-on time, TruPath Genome generates 16 whole genomes per day, nearly double the throughput of competing long-read methods, and with fewer errors.
TruPath Genome leverages novel on-flow cell library preparation with patterned flow cell technology and advanced informatics to seamlessly add long-distance insights for comprehensive variant detection. DRAGEN algorithms tuned to incorporate proximity information from TruPath flow cells improve read alignment and variant calling, extending Illumina high quality reads to difficult-to-map regions, variant phasing, structural variants, short tandem repeats (STR), and clinically relevant paralogous genes. TruPath Genome fully phases up to 98% of genes.
Building on the NovaSeq X Series, Illumina unveiled an 18-month roadmap of innovations that enhance the power and value of the NovaSeq X system. Updates include technology that will deliver up to a Q70 quality score for the first time, along with 30% increased speed and output up to 35 billion reads (35B). Staggered starts and new flow cells go live across the customer base in the coming weeks.
Together, these advances increase daily sequencing productivity and expand the range of applications that can be run at scale on a single instrument. With higher output, increased accuracy, faster run times, and new flexible workflow modes, the roadmap delivers compounded value for customers seeking better, faster, and more cost-effective sequencing for their most demanding applications. Improved accuracy ushers in a new era for applications that require ultrasensitivity. Upon rollout, these updates will enhance the performance and value of the 890 NovaSeq X systems installed globally—the world's largest high-throughput sequencing fleet.
"Unlocking the human genome has changed the face of cancer care and opened up demand for the next wave of biological insights," said Jacob Thaysen, Chief Executive Officer at Illumina. "Researchers are rapidly adopting multiomics and informatics technologies that expand our understanding of biology at scale. Illumina's streamlined multiomics workflows are enabling customers to achieve game-changing breakthroughs in oncology, pharmacogenomics, and more."