Plasmidsaurus shakes up RNA sequencing with EU hub launch and ambient-temperature shipping solution
Plasmidsaurus, the California-headquartered sequencing-as-a-service company, has announced two significant developments aimed at reducing the logistical burden of RNA sequencing for research laboratories: the opening of a dedicated RNA-Seq facility in Cologne, Germany, and the commercial launch of SEQguard™ Dino Preserve, an ambient-temperature RNA preservation reagent developed in partnership with Swedish biotechnology firm Genovis AB.
The two initiatives, while independently conceived, address long-standing friction points in transcriptomic workflows – specifically, geographic access for European researchers and the dependency on dry ice for RNA sample transit.
European infrastructure expands beyond the UK
The Cologne facility extends Plasmidsaurus’s existing European footprint, which previously centred on operations in the United Kingdom. By establishing RNA-Seq processing capacity within the European Union, the company aims to reduce cross-border transit times and associated customs complexity for continental researchers. The hub is supported by an expanding network of local sample dropboxes, with the company quoting a three-day sample-to-result turnaround.
Beyond operational speed, the expansion carries an environmental rationale. Processing samples within the EU reduces transit distances and, by extension, the carbon footprint associated with international sample shipments – an increasingly relevant consideration as laboratories seek to align with institutional sustainability targets.
Ambient shipping addresses a decades-old cold-chain problem
The second announcement centres on SEQguard™ Dino Preserve, formulated through a strategic collaboration with Genovis AB, whose SEQURNA AB subsidiary specialises in RNA stabilisation technology. The product is designed to protect purified RNA samples during transit at ambient temperatures, eliminating the requirement for dry ice that has historically been both costly and logistically complex.
The reagent is fully synthetic, which reduces batch variability and the risk of cell-based contaminants. It demonstrates thermostability across variable ambient temperature ranges and tolerates freeze-thaw cycling, making it suitable for year-round shipping. A single 150 μl vial is sufficient to stabilise 24 purified RNA samples, and the product is both shipped and stored at room temperature (15–30°C).
Workflow integration and broader implications
SEQguard™ Dino Preserve has been optimised for direct integration with Plasmidsaurus RNA-Seq workflows, meaning researchers can apply the preservative prior to depositing samples at a dropbox location without additional cold-chain preparation. For clinical laboratory scientists and translational researchers managing time-sensitive or geographically dispersed sample collections, the removal of dry ice as a logistical requirement represents a meaningful reduction in pre-analytical complexity.
Mark Budde, CEO and co-founder of Plasmidsaurus, commented: “By partnering with Genovis to bring SEQguard™ Dino Preserve into the Plasmidsaurus ecosystem, we’re making high-quality RNA-seq as simple and reliable as dropping off a tube at a local dropbox. Together, we eliminate the logistical headache so customers can focus on their science, not shipping, unlocking unprecedented simplicity for ultrafast, high-quality gene expression data.”
Plasmidsaurus’s sequencing portfolio spans whole plasmids, RNA-Seq, amplicons, whole genomes, and microbiomes, with services used across academic research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology startups globally.
