QIAGEN to Launch 3 New Sample Prep Instruments by 2026 for Lab Automation
QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) has announced plans to launch three new sample preparation instruments in 2025 and 2026. This move is part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its automation portfolio and better serve laboratories around the world with scalable, efficient, and sustainable solutions.
The three new systems—QIAsymphony Connect, QIAsprint Connect, and QIAmini—are designed to address varying laboratory needs, from high-throughput testing to low-volume workflows. These instruments aim to enhance productivity, improve sample traceability, and support a broad range of applications in clinical diagnostics, research, and genomics.
QIAsymphony Connect: The Next Generation
Set to begin a phased launch later in 2025, QIAsymphony Connect is the next generation of QIAGEN’s widely adopted QIAsymphony platform, which has over 3,300 units installed globally. The updated system introduces a host of innovations designed to boost automation and connectivity.
Targeted customer preview sessions will begin in 2025, including demonstrations at key industry events such as the ESCMID Global Congress in Vienna in April. These sessions will highlight the system’s advanced capabilities under controlled conditions.
QIAsymphony Connect is engineered for nucleic acid extraction in a variety of sample types and applications, such as pathogen detection, oncology workflows, genomics, and the increasingly popular liquid biopsy techniques used for non-invasive cancer diagnostics.
The system can process up to 96 samples simultaneously, offering enhanced throughput while minimizing hands-on time. It supports automated sample tracking and is optimized for high-yield extractions, boosting assay sensitivity. Additionally, the system integrates with QIAsphere, QIAGEN’s cloud-based digital platform, allowing remote monitoring, automatic software updates, and real-time instrument status updates.
Crucially, QIAsymphony Connect is built for global use, meeting compliance standards for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) across major markets including the U.S. and Europe.
QIAsprint Connect: High-Throughput Powerhouse
QIAGEN’s QIAsprint Connect, scheduled for a full launch in 2026, represents the company’s foray into high-throughput automated sample processing. Designed to meet the needs of large-scale labs, this system significantly reduces manual labor and accelerates processing times.
Early tests of QIAsprint Connect show impressive results: the system can handle up to 192 samples per run, with only 30 minutes of hands-on time, enabling labs to process up to 600 samples per day. It accommodates both standard and customizable protocols, supporting a wide range of workflows.
One of the key highlights of QIAsprint Connect is its commitment to sustainability. The system’s consumables are designed to cut plastic waste by up to 50%, aligning with growing environmental concerns in the life sciences industry.
Kerstin Luxa from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne shared her experience: “We were excited to test the QIAsprint. Its user-friendly design and ability to efficiently process large sample volumes make it the ideal solution for laboratories like ours.”
The instrument is versatile, capable of processing diverse sample types such as plant tissue, microorganisms, soil, stool, and human specimens. QIAGEN is currently developing nine application workflows for the system, making it suitable for a wide range of scientific fields.
QIAmini: Compact Automation for Smaller Labs
Also planned for release in 2026, QIAmini is a compact, cost-effective automation system designed for laboratories with low sample volumes. It provides an entry-level automation solution, ideal for labs looking to move away from manual pipetting without sacrificing quality or reliability.
QIAmini brings the precision of QIAGEN’s trusted kits into smaller labs, making it a practical tool for those just beginning to automate their processes. The system also offers scalability, allowing labs to expand their automation capabilities as needed.
QIAmini complements QIAGEN’s existing mid-throughput systems like QIAcube Connect and EZ2 Connect, rounding out a portfolio that now supports workflows of all sizes.
A Broader Strategy for Scalable Automation
“These new sample preparation systems underscore our commitment to helping laboratories work more efficiently, sustainably, and flexibly,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Portfolio & Innovation at QIAGEN. “With QIAmini, QIAsprint Connect, and QIAsymphony Connect, we offer customers innovative ways to solve complex challenges—from liquid biopsy to high-throughput screening—with scalable solutions tailored to their needs.”
The upcoming launches build on recent enhancements across QIAGEN’s automation offerings, reinforcing the company’s mission to deliver modular, intelligent solutions that meet the evolving needs of labs—whether small research facilities or large diagnostic centers.
As QIAGEN continues to innovate, these new instruments are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sample preparation and laboratory automation worldwide.
