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Precisely Measure Microbial Communities: Absolute Metagenomic Quantitative Sequencing Service

Understanding the microbial world requires more than just identifying who is there; it demands knowing precisely how many of each microbe exist within a given environment. Our Absolute Metagenomic Quantitative Sequencing Service provides unparalleled precision in microbial community analysis, moving beyond relative abundance to deliver robust, quantifiable insights into your complex samples. This service is designed for researchers and industries where accurate microbial load and specific species quantification are critical for driving informed decisions and groundbreaking discoveries. Request a quote

Our Comprehensive Absolute Quantitative Metagenomic Sequencing Services

Workflow

Fig.1 Workflow of metagenomic absolute quantitative analysis. (Creative Biolabs original)

Service Details

Samples
Turnaround Time
Deliverables

Sample Information & Requirements

Sample Types
  • Clinical: Fecal samples, saliva, tissue biopsies, swabs (skin, oral, vaginal).
  • Environmental: Soil, water (freshwater, marine, wastewater), sediment, air filters, plant roots/leaves, biofilms.
  • Industrial: Fermentation broth, bioreactor samples, food products.
Sample Preservation
  • Immediate flash-freezing in liquid nitrogen or storage at -80°C is highly recommended. For some sample types, specific stabilization buffers may be advised.
Quantity
  • Raw Samples: Specific quantities vary by sample type (e.g., 200-500 mg for solid tissues, 1-5 mL for liquid samples, 1-5 g for soil/feces). Please consult our detailed sample submission guidelines or contact us for specific recommendations.
  • Purified DNA: Minimum 1 µg of total genomic DNA with a concentration of ≥1 µg.
Shipping
  • Samples should be shipped on dry ice or with sufficient ice packs to maintain integrity.

Turnaround Time

Our commitment is to deliver high-quality data efficiently. Typical turnaround times are:

From Sample QC Acceptance to Data Delivery: 4-8 weeks.

Note: Complex or very large projects may require additional time. Expedited services may be available upon request.

Delivery Standards

Deliverable Components Content Specifications
Raw Data
  • Demultiplexed, quality-controlled FASTQ files.
Processed Data
  • Absolute abundance tables for taxonomic profiles (all ranks, from kingdom to strain level).
  • Absolute abundance tables for functional genes, pathways, and associated features (e.g., antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors).
  • Detailed quality control metrics and reports for each sample.
Bioinformatics Analysis Report
  • Summary of methodologies used.
  • Key findings and interpretations.
  • Publication-ready figures (e.g., bar plots, heatmaps, PCoA plots, hierarchical clustering).
  • Statistical analysis results.

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Advantages of Our Service

  • Unrivaled Precision: Moving beyond relative abundance, our absolute quantification provides exact numbers, offering a more accurate and interpretable understanding of microbial community dynamics.
  • Enhanced Comparability: Absolute values enable direct comparison of microbial loads and specific taxa across different samples, studies, and time points, overcoming the compositional nature of relative abundance data.
  • Robustness in Low Biomass Samples: Particularly beneficial for samples with low microbial biomass (e.g., skin swabs, air samples), where relative abundance can be misleading.
  • Deeper Biological Insights: Quantifying specific pathogens, beneficial microbes, or functional genes provides critical insights for diagnostics, therapeutics, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications.
  • Comprehensive Data Delivery: We provide raw data, meticulously processed results, and intuitive reports, empowering your research with actionable insights.
  • Expert Consultation and Support: Our team of experienced scientists and bioinformaticians offers personalized consultation from experimental design to data interpretation.
  • Quality Assurance: All processes are conducted under stringent quality control measures, ensuring high-quality, reproducible, and reliable results.
Fig.2 Metagenomic absolute quantitative analysis. (Creative Biolabs Authorized)

Applications of Metagenomic Absolute Quantitative Sequencing

  • Medical Field
    • Infectious Disease Diagnosis: More accurate detection and quantification of pathogens in samples, especially for polymicrobial infections or difficult-to-culture organisms.
    • Gut Microbiota Studies: Precisely evaluating the impact of dietary interventions, drugs (like berberine for anti-colitis effects), or disease states on the gut microbiome, where changes in absolute microbial counts can be crucial.
    • Biomarker Screening: Identifying microbial biomarkers with significantly different absolute abundances in disease vs. healthy states.
  • Environmental Monitoring
    • Antibiotic Resistance Gene (ARG) Surveillance: Quantifying ARGs in environmental samples like wastewater to monitor public health risks.
    • Ecosystem State Assessment: Understanding how microbial communities and their functional genes change in response to environmental factors.
  • Food Science: Characterizing microbial communities in fermented foods and optimizing production processes.
  • Research & Development: Gaining a deeper understanding of microbial functions, pathways, and responses in various biological systems.

By choosing our Absolute Metagenomic Quantitative Sequencing Service, you are investing in the most precise and comprehensive approach to microbial community analysis available today, empowering your research and development with quantitative confidence. Contact us today for a personalized consultation and to discuss how we can support your next groundbreaking project.

FAQs

What is the difference between relative and absolute quantification in metagenomics?

Relative quantification tells you the proportion of a microbe or gene within a community. Absolute quantification tells you the actual number or concentration of a microbe or gene. Absolute quantification provides a more precise and directly comparable measure.

Why is absolute quantification important, especially for low biomass samples?

In low biomass samples, even small variations in total DNA extraction efficiency can dramatically alter relative abundance profiles. Absolute quantification, by using internal standards, corrects for these variations, providing accurate microbial load and composition even when biomass is limited. It helps distinguish true biological changes from technical artifacts.

What kind of internal standards do you use?

We utilize carefully validated synthetic DNA spike-ins or defined mock microbial communities, depending on the project requirements and sample type, to ensure accurate and reliable absolute quantification.

What level of taxonomic resolution can I expect?

Our shotgun metagenomic service typically provides taxonomic resolution down to the species and often strain level, depending on the comprehensiveness of available reference databases and sequencing depth.

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For Research Use Only. Not intended for use in food manufacturing or medical procedures (diagnostics or therapeutics). Do Not Use in Humans.

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