SEQREADY Get the kit · $29
The NGS Project Starter Kit

Your First Sequencing Project, the Right Way

Choose the right method, send samples that pass QC, compare quotes on true cost, and know exactly what to do when your data arrives. Written for PhD students, postdocs and small labs outsourcing sequencing for the first time.

27-page PDF · 2 spreadsheets · 4 email templates · instant download

Cover of the SeqReady NGS Project Starter Kit
8 lanes, one project. Each chapter reads in one sitting, at the moment you need it.
Why it matters

Most wasted sequencing budgets come from planning, not from bad labs

A failed design can't be fixed after the run. These are the mistakes the kit is built to prevent.

20–40%

Too few replicates

With only 3 replicates per group, most tools found just 20 to 40% of the genes that were really changing.

Schurch et al., RNA, 2016
1 run

Batch confounded with biology

A large human vs mouse study sequenced each species on different runs. Reanalysis reversed its main conclusion.

Gilad & Mizrahi-Man, F1000Research, 2015
$1,500+

The cost nobody quotes

The cheapest per-sample quote often leaves out analysis. A core facility can charge around $2,000 for a small RNA-seq project.

Published 2024–25 US core facility rates
What's inside

Eight lanes, in the order your project happens

A flow cell runs eight lanes side by side. The kit has eight short chapters, from your research question to your first look at the data.

  1. LANE 01
    Pick the right methodMatch your question to the right method, depth and replicates.
    6 min
  2. LANE 02
    Experimental design that survives peer reviewReplicates, batches and controls reviewers accept.
    4 min
  3. LANE 03
    Sample prep and shippingSample types, QC targets, dry ice and labeling.
    6 min
  4. LANE 04
    Getting and comparing quotesCompare providers on true cost, hidden fees included.
    3 min
  5. LANE 05
    Budget planningPlan the full cost, and know what to cut first.
    3 min
  6. LANE 06
    Your data arrived. Now what?Secure, check and understand your files.
    3 min
  7. LANE 07
    Email templatesFour ready-to-send emails for providers.
    3 min
  8. LANE 08
    Glossary in plain English40 terms, from adapter to WGS.
    3 min
Worked example

The cheapest quote wasn't the cheapest

Sara, a PhD student, needs RNA-seq on 12 mice. She sends the same request to three providers using the kit's quote template.

ProviderPer sampleAnalysisTrue cost for 12
A$210+$1,500 elsewhere$4,270
B$165 + $15 QC+$1,500 elsewhere$3,910 + top-up risk
C$240Included$3,130

The highest per-sample price ended up cheapest overall, by $780 to $1,140, once analysis was counted. Prices are based on published 2024 to 2025 US provider rates.

Free download

The Sample QC Cheat Sheet

One page with the checks providers run before they accept your samples, so yours pass the first time.

  • Purity and integrity targets for DNA and RNA
  • A checklist for buffers, labels and dry ice
  • The top 5 reasons samples fail QC
Send me the cheat sheet
About the author

Eric A.

Eric holds an MSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Debrecen, Hungary, where his research used nanopore sequencing to identify pathogens for hospital infection control. He has also worked on the provider side of NGS services, helping universities and hospitals scope their sequencing projects.

SeqReady turns that experience into practical tools for researchers.

MSc Molecular BiologyNanopore sequencingNGS services
Questions

Before you buy

Who is this for?

Anyone outsourcing sequencing for the first time: PhD students, postdocs, lab managers and small-lab PIs. You don't need bioinformatics experience.

Which methods does it cover?

Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, WGS, WES, targeted panels, 16S and shotgun metagenomics, ChIP-seq, methylation, and long-read sequencing on Nanopore and PacBio.

What format is it?

A 27-page PDF with clickable chapters, plus two .xlsx spreadsheets that open in Excel or Google Sheets. You download everything right after payment.

Does it recommend specific providers?

No. It teaches you how to compare any provider fairly, so it works wherever you order.

How do I pay?

Checkout is handled by Paddle, our Merchant of Record. It accepts major cards and handles sales tax for your country.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. If the kit doesn't help you, ask for a full refund within 14 days of purchase. See the Refund Policy.

Plan it once, and get it right the first time

$29one-time · instant download
Buy the Starter Kit