New PreMiEr Publication: Simple Fix Eliminates Key Error in Long-Read DNA Sequencing
PreMiEr researchers have identified a key source of error in Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and developed a simple library preparation fix that eliminates barcode crosstalk, improving accuracy for low-biomass microbiome samples.
A new PreMiEr study identifies barcode crosstalk as a significant and underappreciated source of error in multiplexed Oxford Nanopore sequencing, a widely used long-read DNA sequencing technology. Barcode crosstalk can generate false-positive signals that are especially problematic when analyzing low-biomass samples, such as those collected from built environments. To address this, researchers developed post-ligation pooling, a straightforward library preparation step that prevents crosstalk from occurring. The fix requires no new equipment and can be adopted immediately, offering a practical improvement for researchers using Oxford Nanopore sequencing in microbiome studies. The study was posted to bioRxiv.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.19.689316