How to use this comparison
This page compares Twist Bioscience and Agilent SurePrint for oligo pool synthesis. For a broader supplier shortlist, review the vendor comparison and public specification table alongside your quote requirements.
Quick Summary
| Vendor | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Twist Bioscience | Longer pooled oligos, CRISPR screens, variant libraries, rapid iteration, and projects where sub-pools or strong uniformity are central ordering requirements. |
| Agilent SurePrint | NGS target-enrichment panels, SureSelect-oriented capture designs, very large probe sets, and teams already standardized on Agilent design and ordering systems. |
Comprehensive Comparison
| Feature | Twist Bioscience | Agilent SurePrint |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesis Technology | Silicon-based chip | Inkjet printing on glass slides |
| Max Oligo Length | 300 nt (standard pools) | 230 nt |
| Min Pool Size | ~2,000 sequences | ~5,000–10,000 sequences |
| Max Pool Size | No stated limit | Up to 244K per chip |
| Per-Base Error Rate | ~1:3,000 | ~1:500–1:1,500 (HiFi: 1:4,000) |
| Uniformity (90/10) | <3-fold | ~5-fold |
| Turnaround Time | 2–4 business days | 3–6 business days |
| Delivery Format | Lyophilized in tube | Lyophilized |
| Yield per Oligo | 1–10 pmol | ~10 fmol |
| Sub-Pool Support | Up to 100 sub-pools | Not standard |
| Modifications | Biotin, phosphorylation | Biotin |
| Order File Format | Name, Sequence, Length (CSV) | Vendor-specific CSV |
Agilent HiFi changes the accuracy comparison
Agilent offers a "HiFi" option with error rates as low as 1:4,000 — potentially matching or exceeding Twist's standard accuracy. However, HiFi comes at a premium cost and may have longer turnaround times. Contact Agilent for HiFi-specific pricing and availability.
Error Impact by Oligo Length
The practical impact of per-base error rates depends heavily on your oligo length. Longer oligos accumulate more errors:
| Oligo Length | Twist (1:3,000) | Agilent (1:500–1:4,000) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 nt (sgRNA) | 99.3% perfect | 96.1–98.0% perfect |
| 100 nt (probe) | 96.7% perfect | 81.9–93.2% perfect |
| 200 nt (assembly) | 93.6% perfect | 67.0–87.1% perfect |
Use our Error Rate Calculator to model these scenarios with your exact oligo length and coupling efficiency.
Application-Specific Recommendations
CRISPR Library Screening
Common fit: Twist Bioscience. Strong uniformity (<3-fold 90/10) supports even representation of guide sequences. The 2–4 day turnaround, sub-pool support, and 300 nt maximum length fit common sgRNA library architectures.
NGS Target Enrichment Panels
Common fit: Agilent SurePrint. Agilent's SureSelect system is widely used for target enrichment, and its probe design software integrates tightly with SurePrint synthesis. Up to 244K probes per chip supports large clinical panels, while the HiFi option provides an additional accuracy tier.
Gene Assembly (Synthetic Biology)
Common fit: Twist Bioscience. The 300 nt maximum length allows longer assembly fragments, reducing the number of overlapping oligos needed per gene. The stronger standard accuracy profile may also reduce error-correction burden.
Deep Mutational Scanning (DMS)
Common fit: Twist Bioscience. Stronger uniformity supports more even representation of variants. Sub-pool capability can also support dose-response or condition-specific variant sets within a single order.
Sequence file preparation
Before requesting quotes or placing an order, validate the sequence set and prepare the vendor-specific upload file. Use the Vendor Format Adapter for Twist and Agilent file formatting, and review the sequence set with Batch Sequence QC before submission.