Powered by single molecular, real-time (SMR) sequencing technology, these new systems produce long-read sequencing services -- what the firm calls HiFi reads, Discovery said. HiFi reads are a type of data produced using circular consensus sequencing (CCS), which produces base-level resolution and single-molecule read accuracy. It also supports the latest PacBio HiFi sequencing applications, according to the company.

The new equipment increases the center's long-read sequencing capabilities. Long-read sequencing improves variant detection for whole genome sequencing, comprehensively maps difficult genomic regions, identifies transcript isoforms, elucidates complex disease-causing elements such as repeat expansions and structural variants that short-read technologies miss, according to Discovery.

The firm claims that these new systems make Discovery one of the largest commercial providers of long-read sequencing services for research, development, and clinical trial applications.