What if extracting vital information from biological samples didn't require complicated tools or expert technicians? What if it was as easy as pressing a button?
In 2023, a scientist can sequence a genome within a day thanks to advancements in sequencing technology. DNA readout technology has come a long way, but one step in the sequencing process remains virtually the same as it did two decades ago: sample preparation.
Performance, scalability, and consistency are just some of the challenges biologists face during the antiquated sample preparation process. With the new reality of the $200 human genome, if these challenges are left unaddressed, it’s inevitable that sample prep will become an accelerating burden to labs. We believe that significant innovations are needed in sample prep to unlock the true utility of genomics.
What began as a simple exploration of manipulating colored droplets on a printed circuit board at the MIT Media Lab in 2016, has since evolved into “solving the sample prep bottleneck” in sequencing. Today, we’re at a pivotal moment in Volta’s history as we’re preparing to launch our first commercial instrument in the first half of 2024.
We have built a sequencing technology agnostic platform that can handle a wide range of raw biological samples and deliver sequenceable molecules - all at the push of a button. This has required reinventing the full stack of technologies – hardware, software, chemistry, and biology. The culmination of years of R&D is a family of technological innovations that goes far beyond sample prep, allowing us to envision a world in which a single instrument automates the majority of biological workflows done in a lab.
None of this would have been possible without the exceptional employees who dedicate themselves to this mission everyday. As Volta advisor and Illumina co-founder John Stuelpnagel recently told our team during a fireside chat, “To do extraordinary things, you have to put in extraordinary effort.” We’re proud of the extraordinary effort that goes into Volta every single day. With big plans for 2024, we’re excited to unveil more of what we’ve been working on.
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Introducing VoltaHyb:
Automating the Last Mile of Targeted Sequencing Workflows
The Volta Labs team is revolutionizing critical targeted sequencing workflows with the introduction of the VoltaHyb™ suite of Apps and kits for the Callisto™ Sample Prep System. Designed to enrich your targets with confidence every single time, the Callisto platform brings unmatched workflow simplicity to hybridization capture. With Callisto, users no longer need to rely on multiple lab instruments (heated blocks, magnetic racks, vortexers) or perform time-sensitive heated transfer steps - such complex steps are abstracted away from the end user. Furthermore, Callisto's unique architecture enables precise magnetic bead manipulation coupled with uninterrupted and uniform temperature control during the hybrid capture enabling consistent enrichment performance.
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Callisto reduces sequencing redo rates to less than 3% while minimizing sample loss throughout the capture process. This breakthrough approach enables reliable targeted sequencing even for challenging applications where conventional tools struggle. These advantages extend across both long and short read-based hybrid capture workflows.
The scalable architecture of the Callisto system enables flexible throughput, with the capacity to process up to 96,000 exomes per year or 48,000 PacBio HiFi samples annually. Whether you're running a small research lab or a high-volume testing facility, Callisto adapts to your needs with flexible batch sizes and consistent performance.
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Key Benefits
of VoltaHyb for Hybridization Capture:
Reduced Sequencing Costs:
Lower sample preparation and sequencing costs by minimizing reruns (<3% redo rates).Fully Automated Workflow:
Enables complete walk-away automation for hybridization, capture, washes, and PCR setupBroad Panel Compatibility:
Works with panels of all sizes, from small targeted panels to comprehensive exomesSupport for Both Short and Long Read Applications:
Optimized protocols for both Illumina-style short-read sequencing and long-read technologies like PacBio and Oxford Nanopore
Consistent Results:
Dramatically reduced inter-operator variability and robust performance across repeated runsUniform Coverage:
Even coverage across challenging regions, including high-GC content areasMaximum Throughput: Process up to 480 exomes simultaneously with pooled libraries with flexible batching
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VoltaHyb’s Expanding App Menu
At Volta, we’re continually growing our support for hybrid capture workflows across both short- and long-read sequencing platforms.
On the short-read side, Callisto currently supports IDT xGEN v2 chemistry, as well as Twist’s standard v2 and Fast chemistries. For long-read applications, we support PacBio HiFi enrichment based on Twist’s standard v2 chemistry.
There are more Apps coming to the VoltaHyb menu, and we’re always listening to our users. If there’s a hybrid capture chemistry you’d like to see automated on Callisto, let us know—we’d love to hear from you.
for Twist, v2 standard
The revolution in genomic sample preparation is here. By bringing the push-button experience of a sequencer to targeted sequencing workflows, Volta Labs is transforming how laboratories approach hybridization capture. The choice is no longer between inconsistent manual methods and complex automation platforms that require dedicated engineering resources. With Callisto and VoltaHyb, you can achieve consistent, high-quality results without specialized training or extensive method development.
Ready to experience the difference? Contact our team today to learn how the VoltaHyb powered Hybridization Capture can enhance your targeted sequencing workflows and accelerate your discoveries.
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Ready to innovate with us?
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Automating the Last Mile of Targeted Sequencing Workflows on Callisto
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