How to optimize low-input cfDNA library prep for targeted sequencing sensitivity

Wednesday, March 25 at 15:00 GMT | 16:00 CET | 11:00 EDT | 8:00 PDT

What if your PCR step could adapt to every sample, instead of forcing every sample to adapt to your PCR?

In this now-on-demand webinar, Zach Herbert from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Molecular Biology Core Facilities shares how his team developed a targeted cfDNA sequencing workflow capable of detecting variants at <0.5% allele frequency from as little as 1 ng input — equivalent to just ~300 genome equivalents.

Watch this SelectScience^® webinar to see real data from a genomics core lab:

• Library yield CV dropped from 54% to 8% (10 ng input) — 6x more uniform than fixed-cycle PCR
• On-target rates jumped from ~70% to >90% after implementing sample-specific amplification, across 1 ng and 10 ng inputs
• ~100 patient-derived cfDNA samples (2–25 ng range) processed in a single run, delivering balanced read counts (50–100M reads/pool) for hybrid capture
• Mean target coverage >200x at 1 ng input, with reliable variant detection down to 0.5% VAF using duplex sequencing

The challenge solved: cfDNA workflows are molecule-limited. Fixed-cycle PCR either over-amplifies (artifacts, distorted duplex families) or under-amplifies (insufficient yield for capture). The result? Imbalanced pools, wasted sequencing budget, and compromised sensitivity for rare variants.

The solution: Real-time, per-well PCR control that terminates amplification at each sample's optimal endpoint, preserving molecules, ensuring sufficient yield, and enabling mixed-input runs (1 ng + 10 ng together).

Why this matters for your lab:
"icon96 is really a game changer — shining a light into that black box [of PCR]. We can now see exactly the amplification path of every sample."
— Zach Herbert, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

90%+ on-target isn't a benchmark. It's what Dana-Farber achieved, and what your cfDNA workflow can achieve.

Certificate of attendance
If you attend the live webinar, you will automatically receive a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.

If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

Webinar details

• Cost: Free to attend
• Location: Online
• Duration: 60 minutes

Registration is required to secure your place. If you register but can’t attend live, you will receive a link to the on‑demand recording once it becomes available.