Trouble frequency of HiSeq2500

[nkondo]

How frequently have you been with trouble?
We have five HiSeq2500 installed in 2012. Since last year to today we have run trouble once in every 10 runs. Troubles were caused by various reasons, hard disc error, syringe troubles, temperature control error, communication error etc. Non of our five HiSeq is trouble free.

Does anyone share your trouble rate of HiSeq2500 sequence run?

[MU Core]

Our group operates a single HiSeq 2500. We measure down time as the instrument being unavailable due to a hardware or software issue. Over the past few years it has been <5%. The past 10 months the down time has been 3.1% or 19 days based on a 365 day schedule. I think this is a typical rate and equate to 2-3 service calls per year.

[nkondo]

Our average service calls are 3 - 5 per month, not a year. Even we have five instruments, these numbers seems very high.

[luc]

The experience and the IQ of your Illumina engineer will make a big difference.
We once a had a HS2500 which failed often due to multiple intermittent problems, some of which never got resolved until Illumina finally substituted the machine. The replacement system worked reliably for a year then. It is my impression that the HS2500 parts are not built to last.

[GenoMax]

Our average service calls are 3 - 5 per month, not a year. Even we have five instruments, these numbers seems very high.

That is the reason one maintain service contracts But if the service calls are resulting in significant down times then that may not be good for your facility.

Your FAS has a way of plotting instrument up-times/issues found based on the backend service database at Illumina. If you have not had a meeting with him/her you should schedule one to discuss the performance of your instruments. Any trends that emerge (e.g. particular machine) can be used for targeted remediation. Money spent of consumables is always a good incentive for getting these issues fixed.