Expected output
96 indexed, size-selected libraries in a clean elution plate, ready for fluorometric quantification and a Bioanalyzer/TapeStation trace. Because the SPRI cleanups — the usual source of batch variability — are vision-verified, you should see tighter plate-wide consistency than hand pipetting, with failures (if any) flagged during the run rather than at final QC.
QC metrics & targets
| Metric | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Insert size | Tight peak in your target window (e.g. ~350 bp), consistent across the plate |
| Yield | Within your kit's expected range for the input used; low CV well-to-well |
| Adapter dimers (~120 bp) | Minimal/absent after dual-sided selection |
| Index balance | Even representation across indexes on the sequencer |
Vision verification: every bead transfer, supernatant removal, and wash is confirmed on camera. A mis-engaged magnet or partial supernatant removal is caught and corrected mid-run — the failure modes that normally surface only at the Bioanalyzer.
Consistency benefit
The biggest win isn't speed — it's reproducibility. Automating the pipetting and bead steps removes the technician-to-technician and run-to-run variation that creates batch effects, so downstream comparisons reflect biology, not library prep.