The Value of Thermo Fisher Scientific's NGS Clinical Applications Consultant Team

Introduction

Choosing a next-generation sequencing solution is more than a purchasing decision. It is a commitment to advancing laboratory capabilities, supporting translational or clinical research goals, and delivering reliable results with confidence.

For Thermo Fisher Scientific’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions, including Ion Torrent sequencing technology, the Genexus System, Ion GeneStudio S5 systems, Ion AmpliSeq panels, and Oncomine assays, our Clinical Applications Consultants (CACs) partner with customers throughout that journey.

Key takeaways:

Thermo Fisher Scientific's Clinical Applications Consultants (CACs) support customers using Ion Torrent NGS solutions, from first evaluation through analytical validation, training, launch, and expansion
Support starts with questions about your laboratory's sample types, testing volume, staffing, and goals, so the plan fits how your lab actually works
The partnership continues after go-live, with troubleshooting, quality review, workflow recommendations, and new operator training as your team and testing volume grow
Consulting services offered for the guidance in enabling the analytical validation in support of clinical research efforts only

Support across the NGS workflow, from test design to report

Every laboratory has unique needs. Sample types, testing volume, staffing, bioinformatics capabilities, infrastructure, clinical research objectives, and timelines can vary significantly from one organization to another. That is why our CAC team begins by listening.

During early discussions, CACs help customers explore technical requirements, workflow considerations, analytical validation expectations, and implementation planning specific to NGS.

Moving from decision to implementation requires careful planning. Clinical Applications Consultants can help your team think through expected assay performance characteristics such as accuracy, precision, limit of detection, reportable range, variant detection, and quality control expectations. They also support discussions around protocols, documentation, and protocols and other documentation needs, where applicable. This partnership helps reduce uncertainty, maintain momentum, and prepare your laboratory for a successful NGS go-live.

Below is a summary of clinical research stages and how the NGS clinical applications team can help.

Customer stage	How CACs help	Value to your laboratory
Early evaluation	Ask discovery questions about sample types, testing goals, throughput, staffing, bioinformatics, infrastructure, and NGS experience.	Helps ensure the proposed NGS solution aligns with your laboratory's needs, capabilities, and long-term objectives.
Solution planning	Explain assay design, panel selection, sequencing workflow requirements, analytical validation considerations, quality metrics, and expected performance.	Supports informed decision-making and gives your team confidence before implementation begins.
Implementation preparation	Help outline onboarding, training, validation, go-live expectations, and potential workflow risks.	Reduces uncertainty and helps your laboratory prepare for a smoother NGS launch.
Assay verification support	Provide education on assay performance, sample selection, data review, QC interpretation, protocol considerations, and troubleshooting.	Builds your team’s confidence in the assay, platform, workflow, and analytical results.
Training and onboarding	Deliver structured training on instrument operation, assay workflow, library preparation, sequencing setup, software, analysis, and reporting.	Enables your staff to use Thermo Fisher Scientific NGS solutions effectively and consistently in day-to-day operations.
Workflow optimization	Recommend efficiencies based on your laboratory's workflow, staffing, testing volume, sample types, and operational goals.	Helps improve productivity, reduce avoidable errors, and support sustainable adoption.
Post-launch support	Assist with advanced applications, technical troubleshooting, quality metric review, and ongoing education.	Helps your laboratory maintain performance and continue realizing value after go-live.
Growth and expansion	Identify opportunities for additional assays, applications, instruments, panels, or staff training as your needs evolve.	Supports future growth and helps your laboratory increase the value of its Thermo Fisher Scientific NGS investment.

NGS workflow training for clinical research designed around your team

Successful adoption depends on more than installing an instrument or selecting an assay. Your team needs to feel comfortable with the full NGS workflow, including specimen considerations, nucleic acid input requirements, library preparation, sequencing setup, run quality assessment, data analysis, variant review, reporting workflows, and best practices.

Their goal is to help your staff build confidence, help avoid preventable mistakes, and use the system effectively.

From AmpliSeq-based library preparation to Ion Torrent sequencing, Genexus workflow execution, custom assay design and implementation, quality checks, analysis, and reporting, CACs help translate technical complexity into practical laboratory execution.

Ongoing support after go-live

Our commitment does not end once your laboratory launches. As your needs evolve, the CAC team can help review quality trends, recommend workflow efficiencies, support troubleshooting, and coordinate escalation with other Thermo Fisher Scientific teams when needed. They can also provide refresher training for new and existing staff or expanded coaching as your laboratory grows.

Case study: Supporting analytical validation

A private pathology reference laboratory was doing an analytical validation study for an NGS assay and needed support to complete the requirements, including documentation and sample confirmation requirements. One of the final barriers involved obtaining orthogonal confirmation for specific variants and gene signatures of interest.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific CAC team coordinated internal testing of appropriate samples, clarified analytical validation and documentation requirements, and helped identify appropriate support pathways to help support the customer's analytical validation needs.

Customer impact: The CAC team helped the laboratory maintain analytical validation momentum, reduce delays, and expand the potential use of the NGS assay.

Case study: Re-engaging a customer through workflow observation and QC education

A large academic medical center observed unexpected quality control trends during feasibility testing. After repeated occurrences over several months, the customer paused assay evaluation while they worked to better understand whether the results were related to workflow execution, operator technique, or quality control interpretation.

A Thermo Fisher Scientific CAC went onsite to observe the laboratory workflow, evaluate operator technique, and provide targeted feedback on areas for improvement and optimization. The CAC, Bioinformatics, Product Management, and R&D teams also worked together to review how quality control criteria were established and shared supporting data with the customer.

Customer impact: The support team helped reduce operational contamination risk, rebuild customer confidence, and establish assay performance expectations, enabling the laboratory to restart testing and prepare to begin analytical validation.

Case study: Supporting expansion through additional training and workflow alignment

A large laboratory was preparing to expand molecular testing capabilities and needed support aligning staff training, workflow readiness, and implementation planning across multiple teams.

Thermo Fisher Scientific CACs provided tailored NGS education for each role (laboratory technician, bioinformatics, and laboratory director), workflow guidance, and additional training to help the laboratory prepare for increased testing complexity. The team helped align expectations, support staff readiness, and reinforce best practices for assay execution and quality review.

Customer impact: The customer gained greater confidence in operational readiness, supporting smoother adoption of expanded testing capabilities and future growth.

Your success is our shared goal

By combining scientific expertise, workflow knowledge, hands-on training, and responsive support, CACs help customers move forward with clarity and confidence.

From initial evaluation to analytical validation, launch, optimization, and growth, CACs are with you at every stage, helping your laboratory achieve successful NGS outcomes today while preparing for the opportunities ahead.

Learn more about NGS support

Frequently asked questions

What is a Clinical Applications Consultant at Thermo Fisher Scientific?
A Clinical Applications Consultant (CAC) is a Thermo Fisher Scientific specialist who works directly with laboratories to evaluate, implement, analytically validate, and optimize next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions. CACs bring NGS knowledge, hands-on laboratory experience, and workflow expertise to a customer's team from early evaluation through analytical validation, training, post-launch troubleshooting, and expansion.

Which Thermo Fisher Scientific NGS platforms and assays does the CAC team support?
CACs support Ion Torrent sequencing platforms, including the Genexus and GeneStudio Systems, Oncomine assays, and custom AmpliSeq panels.

Why do laboratories need implementation support to bring NGS testing in-house?
The main obstacles are operational rather than technical, including challenges with complex processes, lack of staff training and knowledge, and inadequate infrastructure. Thermo Fisher's Ion Torrent platforms, including the Genexus System, address this gap directly as a single-vendor solution with integrated bioinformatics analysis and reporting built into the workflow, supporting full automation from extraction through reporting. CAC support is aimed at the training, analytical validation, and workflow portions of that gap.

Does Thermo Fisher's NGS support continue after a laboratory goes live?
Yes. After go-live, CACs review quality trends, recommend workflow efficiencies, assist with advanced applications and technical troubleshooting, and coordinate escalation with other Thermo Fisher Scientific teams when needed. They also identify opportunities for additional assays, applications, instruments, or staff training as testing needs expand.