Abstract

Large-scale pharmacogenetics and complex disease association studies will require typing of thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in thousands of individuals. Such projects would benefit from a genotyping system with accuracy >99% and a failure rate <5% on a simple, reliable, and flexible platform. However, such a system is not yet available for routine laboratory use. We have evaluated a modification of the previously reported Invader SNP-typing chemistry for use in a genotyping laboratory and tested its automation. The Invader technology uses a Flap Endonuclease for allele discrimination and a universal fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) reporter system. Three hundred and eighty-four individuals were genotyped across a panel of 36 SNPs and one insertion/deletion polymorphism with Invader assays using PCR product as template, a total of 14,208 genotypes. An average failure rate of 2.3% was recorded, mostly associated with PCR failure, and the typing was 99.2% accurate when compared with genotypes generated with established techniques. An average signal-to-noise ratio (9:1) was obtained. The high degree of discrimination for single base changes, coupled with homogeneous format, has allowed us to deploy liquid handling robots in a 384-well microtitre plate format and an automated end-point capture of fluorescent signal. Simple semiautomated data interpretation allows the generation of approximately 25,000 genotypes per person per week, which is 10-fold greater than gel-based SNP typing and microsatellite typing in our laboratory. Savings on labor costs are considerable. We conclude that Invader chemistry using PCR products as template represents a useful technology for typing large numbers of SNPs rapidly and efficiently.