If you get the inkling to know just where high throughput sequencing providers and sequencers themselves are located worldwide, there’s an excellent resource to help you do just that. If you haven’t come across this yet, Omicspaps.com is a crowd-sourced map which not only lists service providers globally, but also allows users to view the locations of selected individual sequencers. The site is aptly titled “Next Generation Genomics: World Map of High-Throughput Sequencers”. The home page is comprised of a map built on a Google Maps foundation that overlays the locations of sequencing providers and sequencers. Below is a screenshot of this view:

Omicsmaps – High Throughput Sequencing Locations

Users also have the option to filter by country. What is also quite interesting is the “Machine Statistics” link on the top right hand corner of the main screen which upon clicking, displays the total numbers of facilities per country, sequencers per provider, and many other interesting factoids. Here are a few highlights:

• Largest genome center in the US: the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard takes the cake on this one with a whopping 101 sequencing machines
• The #1 high throughput sequencing platform in use today: this badge belongs to the Illumina HiSeq 2000 with 739 machines globally
• There are more sequencing machines in the US than the next lower 6 countries on this list combined!

Each high throughput sequencing service provider also includes a link to their website which some might find useful. Another great way to get in touch with sequencing providers is through the Genohub shopping interface. Some of the best sequencing providers have already signed up with Genohub to also list their equipment along with the associated services, pricing, and additional value they offer. We encourage you to give it a try!