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nanostring nCounter™ system
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Nanostrings (developed by NanoString Technologies) are fluorescent barcodes that bind to target mRNA for digital gene expression analysis. The nCounter™ Analysis System measures RNA abundance by tagging with barcodes and counting individual mRNA molecules using a novel digital technology. This system is able to detect 1 copy of mRNA per cell, can evaluate up to 550 genes per reaction, and requires only 10-100 ng of total RNA for analysis.

Nanostrings can now also be used for miRNA profiling (see below).

Learn more about our cost-sharing strategy - an inexpensive way to evaluate nanostring technology!

Applications include:

  • validation microarray expression results
  • biomarker analysis
  • gene expression profiling involving hundreds of genes
  • gene expression profiling involving a large number of samples
To learn more, visit the NanoString Technologies website.

Advantages:
  • time and cost effective for the validation of 40-500 unique mRNA transcripts
  • sensitivity comparable to qPCR
  • no enzymology or amplification
  • users can analyse the expression levels of up to 550 genes

How it works:

Each gene of interest (target sequence) has a corresponding capture probe and reporter probe. In addition to a sequence that is complementary to the target sequence, the capture probe has a biotin molecule attached (used to immobilize the sample) and the reporter probe carries a unique fluorescent barcode for detection. The reporter probes and capture probes for all genes of interest, collectively known as the CodeSet, are then hybridised to the sample. After the capture and reporter probes are bound to the mRNA, a stable tripartite structure is formed and linked to a streptavidin-coated cartridge (via the biotin capture probe) and aligned electrophoretically. The barcodes are then counted and tabulated. The Digital Analyzer uses an epi-fluorescent microscope and a CCD camera to collect image data which is converted to a digital signal. Brightness of the code does not carry any information, it is simply present or not present. The data output is simply the gene name, accession number and number of times that transcript was counted in that sample.

Figure 1. The tripartite structure; the capture probe (linked to biotin) and the reporter probe (linked to fluorescent barcode) hybridised to mRNA transcript in solution.


Please click here for links to publications using Nanostring technology.

nCounter™ Gene Expression Panels (CodeSets), nCounter™ Virtual Gene Sets, and nCounter™ Custom CodeSets are available from Nanostring Technologies.
Available Gene Expression Panels:
  • nCounter GX Human Kinase (519 genes)
  • nCounter GX Human GPCR (431 genes)
  • nCounter Human Reference GX (18 genes)
  • nCounter Customer Assay Evaluation (CAE) kit (48 genes)

nCounter™ Virtual Gene Sets are comprehensive lists of genes for the study of genetic pathways, disease states, and biological processes.

Virtual Human Gene Sets are available for the following:
Virtual Mouse Gene Sets are available for the following:
Custom CodeSets can be specifically designed for your research. For Custom CodeSets, you simply provide a list of NCBI Reference Sequence (RefSeq) IDs you want to target and Nanostring will design the best probes for your custom multiplex assay.

NEW! NanoString Technologies launches the nCounter Human miRNA Expression Assay Kit
This new assay kit contains >700 human and human-associated viral miRNAs. The product is available in multiples of 12 assays at a cost of $4560 or $380/assay. For more information about this product and the complete list of miRNA transcripts, please visit the NanoString website.


Pricing: Catalogue Gene Expression Panels Download (last updated: April 2010)
nCounter™ Virtual Gene Sets Download (last updated: December 2009)
Please note that this pricing is for academic groups. Commercial customers, please inquire.

Please contact us for pricing on custom CodeSets. Estimated cost for custom CodeSets Download

Turnaround time: Please inquire

Contact: Kelly Jackson at

Please note that special paperwork is required for shipping RNA from locations outside of Canada. For the Customs documentation that you will need, please download this form  . Once you send us this information, the UHN Customs Officer will generate the appropriate Customs document and send it to you via e-mail. This document must be included with the waybill on your package.

Quick questions:
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What is digital detection?

Digital detection uses discrete units for measurement, in contrast to analogue detection, which uses the relative levels of signal (such as fluorescence) for detection and quantification. In the case of the nCounter system, the identification of each transcript depends only on the order of the fluors on the string (barcode) and not on the intensities of the fluors. The number of transcripts in a sample is quantified by counting the number of times a particular barcode is detected.

What constitutes an assay?

An assay is a single sample. This could be a unique sample, or one of several replicates.

How much total RNA is required per assay?

A minimum of 100ng of total RNA or a lysate of 10,000 cells. Total RNA, including RNA from FFPE samples, should meet minimal integrity requirements (more than 50% greater than 300bp) in order to obtain good results.

What if my RNA samples are slightly degraded?

It depends on how degraded the sample is. Good results can be obtained if more than 50% of the sample is greater than 300bp. Each of the two gene-specific probes are between 35-50 bases (70-100 consecutive bases needed just for probes to hybridise).

What is a CodeSet?

Each unique mRNA sequence has its own pair of reporter and capture probes. The CodeSet is the collection of all reporter probes and capture probes for all genes of interest in an assay. Off-the-shelf CodeSets (nCounter Gene Expression Panels) are available from NanoString Technologies, including the Human Kinase CodeSet and Human GPCR CodeSet. nCounter Custom CodeSets can also be made with your specific genes of interest.

Are there control samples in the CodeSets?

The nCounter CodeSets include positive control codes and synthetic RNA targets that have been spiked in to the CodeSets at concentrations ranging from 0.1fM -100fM which roughly correspond to 0.2-200 copies per cell of mRNA.

Are there controls built into a custom CodeSet?

Yes there are (see previous question), but it is also highly recommended to include 3-8 "housekeeping" genes (or reference genes specific to your samples) in the custom CodeSet.

Can the Virtual Gene Sets be modified?

Yes, genes can be added to (or removed from) the Virtual Gene Sets. The number of genes added (or removed) will increase (or decrease) the cost of the CodeSet.

What kind of "housekeeping" genes should be included?

Popular choices for "housekeeping" or reference genes would be actin or GAPDH, but it is dependent on the biological system being studied. Ideally, genes with steady (not changing) expression are recommended. At least three "housekeeping" genes should be included.

What kinds of catalogue assays (gene expression panels) are available?

nCounter GX Human Kinase CodeSet (over 500 human kinase genes)
nCounter GX Human GPCR CodeSet (over 400 human GPCR genes)
nCounter Human Reference GX CodeSet (18 human reference genes)
nCounter Customer Assay Evaluation (CAE) kit (48 human genes from MAQC study)
View more information

How is the nCounter™ data analysed?

The nCounter system provides a comma separated value file that can be imported and analysed in programs like Excel, Open Office, or Matlab. NanoString Technologies has provided guidelines for normalisation and data analysis. The nCounter Data Analysis Guidelines will provide more information.

How long does it take to get results from one sample?

The entire assay takes 22 hours of one 12-sample cartridge (including the 16 hour -overnight hybridisation, two hours on the liquid-handling Prep Station, and four hours on the Digital Analyzer). The time to run the assay is independent of the number of genes analysed (the assay time is the same for a 20-plex assay and a 550-plex assay).

Are there restrictions as to the number of assays?

Custom CodeSets are available in assay numbers of 48, 96, 192, and 384, and then multiples of 384.

Are there restrictions as to the number of genes?

There is a maximum of 550 genes but there is no minimum, nor specific multiples required.

How is the nCounter™ system quantitative, and how sensitive is it?

The nCounter system is able to detect, count and report molecules across all biological levels of expression. The nCounter CodeSets include positive control codes and synthetic RNA targets that have been spiked in to the CodeSet at concentrations ranging from 0.1fM -100fM which roughly correspond to 0.2-200 copies per cell of mRNA. Using these internal controls, users can plot a regression line and quantify relative levels of expression for each of the genes in the CodeSet. The sensitivity of the nCounter system is comparable to qPCR.