What is the final formamide concentration in the waste solution of Illumina sequencing systems?

This bulletin provides information to help calculate the final concentration of formamide in the waste solution of Illumina sequencing runs.

Formamide concentration in the final waste solution of each run varies depending on the instrument and the length of the run. To determine the concentration of formamide, measure the final waste volume and perform the appropriate calculations as explained in the following table.

*iSeq 100 reagent cartridge is solid waste as it is not intended to be opened.

**Without purge formamide concentration can range from 0.35 - 1.5% depending on run cycles.

Example: A HiSeq X v2 run delivers about 10.56 ml of formamide reagent to the waste container. The estimated volume of total waste is about 1.3 L. The percent of formamide in the final waste solution is approximately 0.8%.

NovaSeq X/X Plus The formamide concentration in the waste solution for a NovaSeq X/X Plus run depends on the amount of reads and indexes that were performed.

For additional information pertaining to NovaSeq X/X Plus waste, see Handling and Disposal Recommendations for Used Reagents on the NovaSeq X/X Plus.

Safely dispose of formamide with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. Regulations for the proper disposal of formamide and other hazardous components in the waste vary by region. Contact your Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) office for the definition of hazardous materials and how to dispose of containers and unused contents in accordance with the governmental safety standards for your region. See the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on the Illumina support page for more information about chemicals found in Illumina reagents.

For any feedback or questions regarding this article (Illumina Knowledge Article #1544), contact Illumina Technical Support [e-mail].