BOSTON, June 12, 2026
Volta Labs, a leader in genomics workflow automation, has announced the launch of Twist Bioscience’s Fast Hybridization (Fast Hyb) application on its Callisto™ Sample Prep System, expanding the platform’s capabilities for automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) sample preparation. Developed in collaboration with Twist Bioscience, the new application complements the existing Twist Standard Hybridization v2 workflow, enabling laboratories to automate Twist’s complete hybrid capture portfolio on a single platform. The integration represents a significant advancement in genomic sample preparation by eliminating one of the most labor-intensive steps in NGS workflows—target enrichment through hybridization. By combining Twist’s rapid hybridization chemistry with Volta’s proprietary digital fluidics technology, laboratories can now move from sample preparation to sequencing in a single day while maintaining the performance and accuracy required for advanced genomic research and clinical applications.
Automated Hybrid Capture Reduces Complexity and Turnaround Time
Target enrichment remains one of the most challenging and time-consuming stages in next-generation sequencing workflows. Traditional hybrid capture methods require precise temperature management, repeated magnetic bead handling, and extensive manual intervention, creating opportunities for variability between operators and laboratories. The newly launched Twist Fast Hyb application addresses these challenges through full automation on the Callisto platform. Once amplification is complete, the system automatically performs temperature-controlled hybridization, bead manipulation, and workflow execution without operator involvement.
This capability allows laboratories to significantly reduce hands-on time while improving consistency and reproducibility. Importantly, the automation enables researchers to complete sequencing-ready libraries within hours rather than relying on overnight hybridization procedures, dramatically accelerating turnaround times for genomic studies and molecular testing programs.
Sequencing Performance Matches Manual Workflows
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Performance validation studies demonstrated that the automated Twist Fast Hyb workflow delivers sequencing results comparable to those achieved through traditional manual preparation methods. According to Volta Labs, key quality metrics including Fold-80 coverage uniformity, sequencing coverage consistency, and AT/GC dropout performance remained equivalent between automated and manual workflows. These findings highlight the platform’s ability to streamline complex laboratory operations without compromising data quality.
The elimination of operator-dependent variability further enhances workflow reliability, providing laboratories with greater confidence in sequencing outcomes. As laboratories face increasing demands for scalability, faster reporting, and operational efficiency, automation technologies capable of preserving analytical performance while reducing complexity are becoming increasingly important across the genomics sector.
Supporting Precision Medicine and Advanced Genomics Applications
The Twist Fast Hyb application is designed to support a broad range of high-value sequencing applications, including comprehensive cancer profiling, whole-exome sequencing, biomarker discovery, precision oncology, and targeted genomic analysis. These applications often require rapid turnaround times and highly reproducible workflows to support research and clinical decision-making. By bringing both Fast Hybridization and Standard Hybridization v2 protocols to the Callisto platform, Volta Labs provides laboratories with greater flexibility to select workflows based on performance requirements and operational timelines. The launch also reinforces the growing role of automation in modern genomics, where laboratories must manage increasing sample volumes while maintaining high-quality sequencing standards.
Founded at MIT, Volta Labs continues to expand the capabilities of its Callisto platform, which supports DNA and RNA sample preparation across major sequencing technologies. The collaboration with Twist Bioscience demonstrates how advanced automation and innovative target enrichment technologies are helping laboratories accelerate genomic research, improve workflow efficiency, and support the next generation of precision medicine initiatives worldwide.
Source: Volta Labs press release
