Ion Torrent 318 chips

[ShirleyHS]

Hi,

Has anyone out there tried the 318 chips? any insights in terms of performance?

Thanks!

[krobison]

They are not yet commercially available -- and I suspect beta testers are under CDA. Still, can't hurt to ask.

[lek2k]

Maybe they were passed around in presentations during this week's road trip. Maybe someone managed to pocket one?

[ShirleyHS]

I know they are not out yet. this was a "behind the scenes" question...

[ShirleyHS]

Had some problem with the language, but the pics are great..

[lek2k]

wow I felt like a KGB agent reading that... I mean pretending to know Russian

[ScottC]

... only KGB agents speak russian?

http://translate.google.com.au/

[NextGenSeq]

Good to know that the Russians and Chinese are still reverse engineering American technology. That's a surefire way to follow and not lead.

[singaporeseq]

Thanks for the picture! With smaller wells are we also expecting to see a drop in signal? Wondering what the delay for the 318 is...was originally supposed to be released in Mid 2011...

[singaporeseq]

I see, just closer together now...more crosstalk with closer wells then?

[scbaker]

Thanks for the picture! With smaller wells are we also expecting to see a drop in signal? Wondering what the delay for the 318 is...was originally supposed to be released in Mid 2011...

I don't think the 318 is 'late' quite yet. The 316 was promised (and delivered) mid 2011. 318 was promised 6 months after that, which is right about now. I'm guessing we'll see it by AGBT.

[krobison]

I was told today by an Ion Torrent service provider that it is commercially available (though they aren't yet offering it), but I don't see it in the store. Perhaps there is an expanded early access program?

[bioits]

It is in early access (Developer Access section).

[aleferna]

Are they selling the 318, I think we're about to buy the MiSeq, but we can't keep holding on the purchase any longer... any updates on this?

[scbaker]

Looks like they just announced the commercial availability of the 318 chip (more or less on time): http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...136921308.html

For me, the surprising statement from this press release was "In the second half of 2012 we expect to increase read lengths on the Ion Torrent PGM up to 400 bases."

Rothberg was talking about 400b reads by the end of 2011 back in June. Has progress really slowed down that much?