![\"\"](\"https:\/\/41j.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-6-1024x741.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou can get a rough idea of what’s in the platform from this. There’s a PI Z stage. A Y-stage. Illumination uses LEDs rather than lasers. A bunch of TECs for temperature control. And some embedded compute (I’d guess x86\/AMD64). Using this information my best guesses at the BOM cost for the most expensive components would be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Cameras 2x Sony IMX038: Estimate $1800<\/li>
- Z-Stage (PI): $1000<\/li>
- Y-Stage: $100?<\/li>
- HDD: $50<\/li>
- Compute: $200<\/li>
- LEDs\/photodiodes: $50<\/li>
- TECs: $50<\/li>
- Nikon x20 Objective: $400<\/li>
- Fluidics System: $300<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Which gives us a total of $3900, for an instrument that costs the region of 50 to 100K (if you have exact pricing let me know). $3900 is a lower bound in my view, putting the instrument together in low volume likely adds significant overhead. Still I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t put together a MiSeq like instrument for around $5000 in high volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flowcell and Reagent Cartridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/41j.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-7-763x1024.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Miseq flowcell seems to a simple glass substrate, with covalently bound oligonucleotides for capture. I’d be curious about accurate costings here, but I suspect it’s pretty cheap. Probably <$10. There are various companies you can buy flowcells from in relatively small quantities for not much more than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which leaves us with the reagent cartridge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/41j.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-8-592x1024.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDigging through various bits of documentation it seems like we have 14 independent reagents in this cartridge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1<\/td> IMT<\/td> Incorporation Mix<\/td><\/tr> 2<\/td> USM<\/td> Scan Mix<\/td><\/tr> 3<\/td> CMS<\/td> Cleavage Mix<\/td><\/tr> 4<\/td> AMS1<\/td> Amplification Mix, Read 1<\/td><\/tr> 5<\/td> AMS2<\/td> Amplification Mix, Read 2<\/td><\/tr> 6<\/td> LPM<\/td> Linearization Premix<\/td><\/tr> 7<\/td> LDR<\/td> Formamide<\/td><\/tr> 8<\/td> LMX1<\/td> Linearization Mix, Read 1<\/td><\/tr> 9<\/td> LMX2<\/td> Linearization Mix. Read 2<\/td><\/tr> 10<\/td> RMF<\/td> Resynthesis Mix<\/td><\/tr> 11<\/td> HP10<\/td> Primer Mix, Read 1<\/td><\/tr> 12<\/td> HP12<\/td> Index Primer Mix<\/td><\/tr> 13<\/td> HP11<\/td> Primer Mix, Read 2<\/td><\/tr> 14<\/td> PW1<\/td> Water<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Most of these are either oligos (primers), polymerases, or nucleotides. None of which I imagine are particularly expensive. But it’s substantially more complex than the flowcell, and I imagine that QCing and putting this cartridge together along with the logistics around shipping it to customers is the dominating cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n