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Yes. Oxford Nanopore says its MinION sequencer entered an access programme in spring 2014 and became commercially available in May 2015. The current model is the MinION Mk1D: a 130-gram, USB-C laboratory sequencer. Oxford Nanopore’s US list price is $3,150 for the device or $5,150 for a pack that includes five flow cells and sequencing consumables.
Did the MinION ever reach the market?
Yes. MinION moved beyond its announcement into Oxford Nanopore’s Access Programme in spring 2014, then became commercially available in May 2015, according to the company’s company history.
The familiar “USB stick” description dates to the original announcement on 17 February 2012. At that point, Oxford Nanopore described a disposable, memory-stick-sized DNA sequencing device and projected that one unit would retail for less than $900. That was an expectation for the proposed product at the time, not the current price. The company’s overview later records a $1,000 MinION starter pack in 2015; that historical pack price also should not be confused with today’s Mk1D offer.
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How much does the current MinION cost?
Oxford Nanopore’s US product page and official US price list give these list prices for the MinION Mk1D:
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| Option | US list price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| MinION Mk1D | $3,150 | One MinION Mk1D device. |
| MinION Mk1D Pack | $5,150 | One MinION Mk1D, a control expansion kit, two flow-cell wash kits, five MinION flow cells, standard support, and sequencing kits. |
These are US prices listed by Oxford Nanopore; prices may differ by country and change over time. The pack costs more upfront but includes flow cells and preparation-related consumables that are not part of the device-only listing. Check the manufacturer’s US MinION Mk1D product page and official price list for current availability and terms in your region.
What is the MinION Mk1D?
The Mk1D is a compact nanopore sequencer measuring 55 × 13 × 125 mm and weighing 130 g. It connects to a laptop or MacBook over high-speed USB-C. It is designed to stream sequence results as a run proceeds, rather than requiring a completed run before any data becomes available.
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Oxford Nanopore specifies read lengths from 20 base pairs to more than 4 megabases across DNA or RNA fragments. Read length describes the length of an individual sequence read; it does not by itself tell you how many reads or how much total data a run will produce.
What can it sequence?
The MinION can be used for a range of laboratory sequencing applications, including bacterial isolates and whole genomes, viral amplicons, metagenomic species identification, whole exomes, whole transcriptomes, and smaller direct-RNA transcriptomes. The appropriate flow cell, library preparation, run setup, and analysis depend on the sample and question being studied.
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Its nanopores detect electrical signals as individual nucleic-acid molecules pass through them. Software interprets those signals as sequence data. Because the instrument reads single molecules and supports long reads, it can be useful when the length and continuity of sequence matter, as well as when researchers want data while sequencing is underway.
What you need besides the device
The MinION is not a consumer USB drive that can read an untreated sample. A sequencing experiment requires a prepared sample, compatible flow cell, library-preparation chemistry, and software for instrument control and data analysis. Those needs affect both the workflow and total cost; buying the instrument alone does not supply the complete set of materials for every experiment.
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- Sample preparation: The sample must be processed into a library compatible with the chosen sequencing workflow.
- Flow cell: The prepared library is run on a compatible MinION flow cell.
- Sequencing chemistry: The required kits and protocols depend on the application and chosen workflow.
- Computer and analysis: A compatible laptop or MacBook connects over USB-C, and software is needed to control the run and interpret its output.
How fast does it sequence?
Real-time output means sequence data can arrive during a run; it does not mean every sample is sequenced instantly. A 2015 peer-reviewed Genetics study reported, for its particular short-read method, 500 reads in 3 minutes 40 seconds and 40,000–80,000 reads in 2–4 hours. These are results from that study’s workflow, not guaranteed performance figures for a current Mk1D run. Actual results depend on the sample, preparation, flow cell, chemistry, and experimental setup.
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Where can you buy it?
Oxford Nanopore documents direct purchase through its store, along with sequencing service providers and channel partners as other routes. A service provider may be a practical route if you need sequencing results but do not want to operate and support an instrument and its laboratory workflow yourself. For direct purchasing, confirm regional availability and what is included in the specific offer with Oxford Nanopore or an authorized channel partner.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
