Parse Biosciences Launches Evercode MAX to Expand Single-Cell Sequencing Capacity and Reduce Research Costs
Parse Biosciences, a leading provider of scalable and accessible single-cell sequencing technologies and a QIAGEN company, has announced that Evercode™ MAX, a modular configuration of its flagship Evercode single-cell sequencing platform, is now shipping to customers. The new offering is designed to help researchers analyze more cells and samples within existing research budgets, providing greater flexibility for experimental design while potentially reducing the overall cost of single-cell sequencing studies.
With Evercode MAX, researchers can profile up to 2.5 times as many cells across up to twice as many samples within the same budget, or conduct the same experiment at approximately half the overall cost, according to Parse Biosciences. The platform retains the company’s instrument-free workflow while introducing a modular kit configuration that allows laboratories to select sample barcoding and library preparation kits independently.
The launch addresses a persistent challenge in single-cell research: balancing the number of cells analyzed, the number of biological samples included and the cost of generating sequencing data. Researchers often need to make trade-offs between these variables, particularly when studying complex biological systems, rare cell populations or differences among patients and experimental conditions.
Evercode MAX is intended to give research teams greater control over these decisions. Its configurations support up to 384 samples and 2 million cells, allowing investigators to prioritize a larger number of samples when characterizing biological variation or increase the number of cells analyzed per sample to identify rare populations and subtle cellular states.
The product is available for several applications across the Evercode portfolio, including Whole Transcriptome, WT FFPE, T-cell receptor (TCR), B-cell receptor (BCR) and CRISPR Detect workflows. By allowing laboratories to match kit capacity to their experimental needs, Parse aims to make single-cell sequencing more adaptable to a broad range of research projects.
Modular Configuration Designed Around Research Needs
Single-cell sequencing enables researchers to examine biological characteristics at the level of individual cells rather than relying exclusively on measurements averaged across a mixed population. This approach can help reveal cellular diversity, identify uncommon cell types, characterize differences in gene expression and investigate how cells respond to disease, treatment or changes in their environment.
However, the scale and design of a single-cell experiment can significantly affect its cost. A study focused on differences between patient groups may require many samples, while an investigation of rare immune cells or uncommon cellular states may require sequencing a large number of cells from each sample.
Traditional experimental planning can force laboratories to compromise between these priorities. Increasing the number of samples may reduce the number of cells available for each one, while increasing the cell count per sample can limit the number of biological conditions that researchers can evaluate within a fixed budget.
Evercode MAX is designed to address this challenge through a modular kit structure. Rather than requiring researchers to use a single fixed configuration, the platform separates sample barcoding and library preparation into independent kits. This gives laboratories more flexibility to determine how they allocate their experimental capacity.
Sample barcoding helps distinguish samples within a pooled sequencing workflow, allowing researchers to process multiple samples together while retaining information about their origins. Library preparation converts the relevant biological material into sequencing-ready libraries that can be analyzed using sequencing instruments.
By making these components independently configurable, Evercode MAX allows researchers to select a combination that better aligns with the scale and structure of their studies. Laboratories can plan for more samples, more cells or a combination of both, depending on the biological questions they want to answer.
The modular approach is intended to reduce the need to purchase a configuration that does not fully match a project’s requirements. It also gives laboratories more control over how they use their research budgets, particularly when experimental priorities change between projects.
Supporting More Samples and Larger Cell Populations
One of Evercode MAX’s principal features is its capacity to support up to 384 samples and 2 million cells. This scale can be useful for researchers studying complex biological systems in which both sample diversity and cellular depth are important.
For studies involving multiple patients, disease subtypes, treatment conditions or time points, increasing the number of samples can help investigators characterize biological variation more comprehensively. Including more samples may provide a broader view of differences among individuals and help researchers investigate whether observed patterns are consistent across a study population.
For other projects, the primary objective may be to capture as many cells as possible from each sample. A larger cell count can improve the opportunity to detect rare populations that might otherwise be represented by only a small number of cells in a dataset. It can also help researchers examine cellular heterogeneity and identify differences among cell states within a tissue or biological system.
These considerations are particularly relevant in immune profiling, disease research and studies investigating the cellular mechanisms underlying biological processes. For example, investigators studying immune-cell diversity may need to identify uncommon populations or examine variation in receptor expression. Researchers studying diseased tissues may want to characterize distinct cellular states and compare them across samples.
Evercode MAX allows researchers to adjust the balance between sample count and cell count to suit these objectives. According to Parse, users can profile up to 2.5 times as many cells across up to twice as many samples within their existing budget.
The company also states that researchers can perform the same experiment at approximately half the overall cost. These figures describe the potential value of the platform under the company’s stated configurations and comparison assumptions; actual savings and achievable scale will depend on experimental design, reagent requirements and sequencing needs.
The flexibility may be especially valuable for laboratories managing multiple projects or conducting studies in which the number of samples and target cell count differ considerably. Instead of applying the same kit configuration to every experiment, researchers can tailor their setup to the scientific question.
Reducing Cost Per Sample by Up to 58%
Cost remains an important consideration in the adoption and expansion of single-cell sequencing. Although the technology can generate detailed information about cellular diversity and gene expression, large-scale studies can require substantial expenditure on reagents, sample processing and sequencing.
Parse says Evercode MAX can reduce cost per sample by up to 58% by enabling researchers to process more samples and cells within a single experiment. The ability to scale the number of samples can spread experimental costs across a larger dataset, while the option to adjust library preparation capacity may help laboratories avoid purchasing more capacity than they need for a particular study.
Another feature is the ability to save unused library preparation reactions for future experiments. Researchers can match the library preparation capacity they purchase to their target cell count and retain unused reactions for subsequent work, subject to the applicable product handling, storage and usage instructions.
This capability may help laboratories manage reagent consumption more efficiently, particularly when projects proceed in stages or when researchers do not need to use their entire library preparation capacity in a single run.
The result is a purchasing model that gives laboratories greater control over how they allocate their resources. Rather than being limited to one fixed relationship between sample count, cell count and kit capacity, research teams can choose how much capacity to use for each experiment.
The potential economic benefits could matter to academic laboratories, translational research groups and other organizations working within defined budgets. Researchers may be able to explore additional biological questions, expand sample cohorts or increase the depth of cellular analysis without proportionally increasing their spending.
Nicholas Jendzjowsky, PhD, Assistant Professor-in-Residence at The Lundquist Institute, recently selected Evercode MAX for planned research experiments and highlighted the flexibility of the new configuration.
“Flexible is how I’d describe Evercode MAX. For our planned experiments, we could essentially do two experiments for the price of one. That made the decision pretty easy,” Jendzjowsky said.
His comments reflect the importance of cost and experimental flexibility when research teams select technologies for large-scale studies. The ability to conduct additional experiments within an existing budget may allow researchers to compare more conditions or pursue complementary scientific questions.
However, the extent of any financial benefit will depend on the requirements of each project, including the number of samples, desired cell recovery, sequencing depth and other study-specific expenses.
Retaining the Established Evercode Workflow
Although Evercode MAX introduces a different kit configuration, Parse says the platform uses the same v4 chemistry as existing Evercode kits. The company highlights sensitive gene and transcript detection, efficient sequencing and increased cell recovery as features of the underlying technology.
Maintaining the existing chemistry is intended to provide customers with the benefits of a modular purchasing model without requiring them to adopt an entirely different workflow. Researchers familiar with the Evercode platform can continue working with its established approach while selecting a configuration better suited to their experimental scale.
The instrument-free nature of the workflow is another central aspect of the platform. Instrument-free single-cell preparation can reduce reliance on specialized equipment for the relevant processing steps, potentially making the technology accessible to a wider range of laboratories.
For research teams considering expansion, maintaining a familiar workflow may also simplify planning and implementation. Laboratories can evaluate how to scale their studies without necessarily having to redesign every aspect of their existing processes.
Parse’s focus on gene and transcript detection is particularly relevant to whole-transcriptome studies, which examine gene-expression patterns across cells. Researchers can use such data to identify differences in cellular activity, characterize cell populations and investigate how gene expression varies between biological conditions.
Other available Evercode MAX configurations support more specialized applications. TCR and BCR workflows are relevant to studies of T-cell and B-cell receptor diversity, respectively, while CRISPR Detect supports research involving CRISPR-based experimental systems. WT FFPE extends the product offering to whole-transcriptome analysis involving formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples, which are commonly used in tissue preservation and pathology research.
Availability across these applications allows researchers to consider the modular format for different types of single-cell studies rather than limiting the offering to a single research area.
Flexibility Across Whole-Transcriptome and Immune Research
The inclusion of Whole Transcriptome, WT FFPE, TCR, BCR and CRISPR Detect configurations broadens the potential uses of Evercode MAX.
Whole-transcriptome analysis can help researchers understand gene-expression patterns across individual cells. By examining these patterns, investigators can distinguish cellular populations, identify changes in cellular activity and study biological processes that may be obscured when analyzing an entire tissue as a single mixed sample.
WT FFPE is relevant to research using preserved tissue samples. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens are widely used in pathology and can provide access to archived material. The ability to incorporate such samples into research workflows may be useful when investigators want to examine tissue that has already been collected and preserved.
TCR and BCR analysis focuses on immune receptors that play important roles in adaptive immunity. Characterizing receptor diversity can support research into immune-cell populations and their responses. The CRISPR Detect workflow, meanwhile, is intended for research applications involving CRISPR-based approaches.
The capacity to process more samples or cells may help researchers expand the scope of studies in these areas. For instance, a team may want to compare immune-cell profiles across more biological samples, or investigate uncommon cellular populations in a complex tissue.
The modular design gives laboratories the option to prioritize these objectives based on the needs of a particular experiment. As with any sequencing approach, the quality and interpretability of results will depend on sample quality, experimental design, sequencing strategy and appropriate downstream analysis.
Developed in Response to Customer Feedback
According to Parse Biosciences, Evercode MAX was developed in response to feedback from customers seeking more control over how they scale single-cell studies.
Charlie Roco, PhD, co-founder and chief technology officer at Parse Biosciences, said the new configuration reflects the different priorities that research laboratories face when expanding their experiments.
“Evercode MAX is the direct result of feedback from our customers. Every lab has different priorities when scaling a single cell study, whether it be more samples, more cells, or a tighter budget, and this gives them the ability to make that call themselves instead of settling for a kit that only solves for one variable,” Roco said.
The company’s approach recognizes that laboratories may have very different requirements even when they use the same underlying sequencing platform. Some researchers need to expand sample cohorts, while others need more cells per sample to investigate rare populations. Budget limitations can influence both decisions.
By separating sample barcoding and library preparation into independent kits, Parse aims to make the platform more adaptable to these differing priorities.
Evercode MAX is now shipping to customers, giving laboratories the opportunity to incorporate the modular configuration into eligible single-cell research projects. The launch also reflects the company’s broader focus on making single-cell sequencing more scalable and accessible.
Product Showcase at ASHG 2026
Parse Biosciences is presenting Evercode MAX to the research community at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) conference, taking place October 20–24, 2026, in Montreal, Canada. Attendees can learn more about the platform at the company’s booth, number 801.
Researchers seeking further technical and product information can also visit the Evercode MAX product page.
With its modular kit structure, support for up to 384 samples and 2 million cells, and potential to reduce cost per sample by up to 58%, Evercode MAX is designed to give laboratories greater flexibility in planning single-cell sequencing experiments.
The platform’s central proposition is to allow researchers to make more deliberate choices about sample numbers, cell counts and reagent use while retaining the existing Evercode v4 chemistry and instrument-free workflow. For research teams looking to expand their studies within limited budgets, the approach may offer a practical way to balance experimental scale with cost.
As single-cell sequencing continues to support investigations across genomics, immunology, disease biology and other research areas, configurable platforms such as Evercode MAX could help laboratories tailor their experiments more closely to the scientific questions they want to answer.
About Parse Biosciences
Parse Biosciences, a QIAGEN company, is a global life sciences company whose mission is to accelerate progress in human health and scientific research. Empowering researchers to perform single cell sequencing with unprecedented scale and ease, its pioneering approach has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in cancer treatment, tissue repair, stem cell therapy, kidney and liver disease, brain development, and the immune system.