We offer Becton Dickinson’s Rhapsody HT Xpress Multi-omics platform for combined single cell RNA-Seq and protein analysis in up to 40,000 single cells in a single experiment.  In contrast to droplet-based methods, Rhapsody uses microwells rather than microfluidic channels.  Thus, there are no channels to clog and no need to concentrate cells into very small volumes. Single cells settle into wells under gravity, which is ideal for capturing fragile cells with minimal stress.

Overview of the Rhapsody Platform

  • It allows multi-plexing of up to 12 samples prior to cell capture to minimize batch effects and decrease library costs
  • Achieves high cell capture efficiency with low multi-plet rates (<12%), and uses magnetic beads for efficient mRNA capture and cDNA amplification steps
  • Provides automated cell counting, viability measurements and cell capture rates to provide quality control information prior to library preparation and sequencing

This link provides an FAQ document for more information to help you plan your experiment

Rhapsody Services

CASCA performs single cell Ab labeling, cell capture, cDNA synthesis and library preparation. The Centre for Applied Genomics performs the sequencing.

We offer a free initial consultation on how to optimize cell preparation, experimental design

Base Price for Cell Capture & cDNA Synthesis: $2,100 to capture one sample of up to 20,000 cells.  Includes our Core discount from BD for reagents as well as tech time

Sample Multiplexing Option: Combine 2-12 cell suspensions. This option adds $300/sample to the Base Price to pre-stain up to 12 different samples with oligo-tagged sample multiplexing antibodies prior to pooling for downstream processing. This option greatly reduces batch effects, costs and improves mult-iplet detection.

Surface Protein Profiling Option: To identify cell lineages and link single cell transcriptomes to the surface proteins expressed by individual cells within your heterogeneous cell populations, we can pre-label your cells with up to 40 Ab-Seq (olig-tagged) immunphenotyping Abs.  Purchase these reagents directly from BD, who offers a 15% discount off their list price for Ab-Seq reagents to CASCA clients.

Transcriptome Options: Choose between whole transcriptome analysis (WTA) and gene-targeted assays, to which you can add TCR and BCR analysis

CASCA has partnered with TCAG to perform Illumina sequencing . Please contact Tara Paton at TCAG to request quotations and schedule this service.

Data can be analyzed by standard R-based bioinformatics pipelines or by BD’s desktop SeqGeq software that non-R speakers can use.

Contact Emily Reddy with any questions.