MERCURIUS™
Low-Input FLASH-seq Kits
Ultra-sensitive and full-length RNA-seq technology for ultra low-input RNA samples
Discover Sample Datasets
PBMCs, HEK293
Ultra-sensitive
gene detection
Full-length
transcript coverage
For rare cell populations
For precious
low-input samples
Product Overview
Built for teams requiring maximum sensitivity to detect the largest number of full-length genes possible from precious, ultra-low-input RNA samples (1 pg – 1 ng per well).
The MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq combines ultra-sensitive gene detection with full-length transcript coverage in a 96-well plate-based workflow. It enables ultra-low-input RNA-seq on Illumina® and AVITI™ platforms without compromising depth, data quality, or sensitivity.
0.5M reads/sample
Applications
Low-input RNA-seq for scarce samples (e.g. small biopsies, rare or sorted populations, limited clinical material) where standard RNA-seq kits fail.
Full-length mRNA sequencing of low-input RNA to profile differential gene expression, splicing variants and isoforms from precious samples at pg to ng input.
- Automation-friendly, plate-based transcriptome profiling for low-input studies in immunology, oncology, neuroscience and translational research where sensitivity and sample conservation are critical.
MERCURIUS™ FLASH-seq Detects More Genes Than Smart-seq3 and Smart-seq2 with Greater Consistency
FLASH-seq detects a median of approximately 11,000 genes per sample in HEK293T cells, outperforming Smart-seq3 and Smart-seq2 after downsampling all to 500k reads/sample.
The Sensitivity Of MERCURIUS™ FLASH-Seq Is Retained Even In Highly Heterogeneous Populations
Number of genes detected in human PBMCs, processed with different protocols, and the number of reads downsampled to 125,000 raw reads.
MERCURIUS™ FLASH-Seq Is A Full-Length ScRNA-Seq Protocol
Gene body coverage shows a uniform read distribution across the entire gene body for the FLASH-seq protocol.
MERCURIUS™ FLASH-Seq Shows High Sensitivity For Low Sample Inputs
The number of genes detected in HEK 293T cells using different RNA inputs (from 2.5 pg to 250 pg) at different sequencing depths.
Sample Datasets
PBMCs
96
10'000 reads
To have access to the deep-sequenced dataset (9.5M reads per sample) contact us.
79.9 MB
HEK293
191
250'000 reads
4.9 GiB
Product documentation
User guide
Publications
- FLASH-seq, Single-cell FLASH-seq
Andrea Salati, Yves Paychère, Vincent Hahaut, Cédric Gobet, Felix Naef
- FLASH-seq, Single-cell FLASH-seq
Tarek Elmzzahi, Chun-Hsi Su, Mehrnoush Hadaddzadeh Shakiba, Doaa Hamada, DaryaMalko, Maren Koehne, Aleksej Frolov, Teisha Mason, Yuanfang Li, Rebekka Scholz, Collins Osei-Sarpong, Leonie Heyden, Jonas Schulte-Schrepping, Lorenzo Bonaguro, Kristian Haendler, Vassiliki Boussiotis, Annett Halle, Elena De Domenico, Daniel HDGray, Martin Fuhrmann, Zeinab Abdullah, Axel Kallies, Kevin Man, Marc D. Beyer.
- FLASH-seq, Single-cell FLASH-seq
Akisawa Satomi, Riho Saito, Tadahaya Mizuno, Hiroki Sugishita, Hideki Ukai, Shigeyuki Shichino, Masashi Yanagisawa, Kouji Matsushima, Yukiko Gotoh, Tomohiko Okazaki.
Application
Equipment compatibility
Species compatibility
Available formats
Shipping conditions
Storage conditions
What is MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq, and how does it work?
How is MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq different to the original FLASH-seq protocol?
We have significantly enhanced the original FLASH-seq method to offer a streamlined workflow and superior data output. This 96-well plate-based technology features a novel, non-toxic tagmentation buffer and delivers ultra-sensitive gene detection, capturing up to twice as many genes as other commercially available solutions.
What are the main applications of MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq?
Dissect tumor heterogeneity by sequencing rare cancer stem cells or circulating tumor cells. FLASH-seq enables detection of expressed mutations, splicing isoforms, and gene fusions, providing deep insights into clonal evolution and therapeutic resistance in individual cancer cells.
In complex tissues like the brain, FLASH-seq empowers researchers to analyze rare neuronal subtypes or glial cells with high resolution. It reveals alternative splicing events and single-nucleotide variants that may be critical in neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders.
FLASH-seq can be used to assess the impact of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) on target splicing at single-cell resolution. This enables precise tracking of treatment efficacy across rare or responsive cell subsets within a population.
Detect intracellular viral RNA in infected cells—even when those cells are extremely rare. FLASH-seq allows you to simultaneously monitor host responses and viral transcript presence, crucial for studying latent infections or early-stage viral spread.
What type of samples can be used in MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq?
The MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq protocol is designed for low RNA input from precious samples (1 pg to 1 ng), subcellular inputs, liquid biopsies, exosomes, microbiopsies, small organoids, and early embryos.
How should I prepare my samples?
You are required to extract RNA from the samples and normalize them to the same concentration prior to freezing and shipping.
Please note! To preserve sample quality during shipping, plates must be placed between dry ice—not just on top. Inadequate cooling may compromise RNA integrity!
What is the sequencing depth recommended for MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq?
The average recommended sequencing depth is 250’000 reads/cell.
Ask your question:
Kit name
MERCURIUS™ Low-Input FLASH-seq library prep kit (96 preps)
all eukaryotic species
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