Agilus Diagnostics has achieved a major milestone in India’s precision medicine landscape by installing the state-of-the-art Illumina NovaSeq X sequencing system at its flagship laboratory in Mumbai. The deployment, completed in January 2026, positions Agilus as one of the earliest adopters of this next-generation platform in the Indian diagnostic sector and significantly enhances its ability to offer high-throughput, cost-effective genomic testing at scale.

The NovaSeq X is Illumina’s most advanced sequencing instrument to date, capable of generating up to 20,000 whole genomes or 200,000 exomes per year on a single system. It combines higher throughput, lower per-base sequencing costs, and faster turnaround times with improved data quality and reduced index hopping. For Agilus, the system enables a dramatic expansion in clinical NGS offerings, including:

Comprehensive hereditary cancer panels

Liquid biopsy for therapy selection and monitoring in solid tumours

Whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing for rare disease diagnosis

Reproductive genomics (carrier screening, non-invasive prenatal testing)

Pharmacogenomics for personalised medication guidance

Turnaround times for many panels are expected to drop to 24–48 hours, a substantial improvement over conventional workflows. The platform also supports larger sample batches, making it economically viable to offer advanced genomic testing to a broader patient population, including those from tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Dr. Nilesh Dharap, Chief Operating Officer at Agilus Diagnostics, commented: “The NovaSeq X is a game-changer for precision diagnostics in India. It allows us to deliver faster, more accurate, and more affordable genomic insights to clinicians and patients especially in oncology and rare diseases where timely results can directly impact treatment decisions and survival outcomes.”

The Mumbai lab has been designated as Agilus’s national centre of excellence for high-complexity genomic testing, with samples from across the country being routed here for sequencing. The company plans to leverage the increased capacity to expand its oncology and rare disease portfolio while maintaining strict quality standards and compliance with NABL, CAP, and ICMR guidelines.

This investment reflects Agilus’s long-term commitment to building India’s most advanced diagnostic infrastructure and supports the national goal of making precision medicine more accessible and equitable. With the NovaSeq X now live, Agilus is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality NGS-based testing driven by rising awareness of genetic testing and expanding insurance coverage for advanced diagnostics.