Genetic Insights Delivered Fast

At Xelect, we understand that speed and precision are critical in aquaculture. That’s why our custom-built genetics lab in St Andrews is designed to deliver rapid, reliable results—whether you need SNP genotyping, triploidy confirmation, sex determination, or eDNA analysis.

With over 100,000 samples processed annually, we combine cutting-edge technology with deep aquaculture expertise to support your breeding and production goals.

Genotyping and relatedness analysis

Our laboratory offers access to a full range of SNP genotyping services, ranging from small parentage panels for quick parentage assignment, population analysis and marker assisted selection, to medium/high density genotyping for improved selection accuracy using genomic selection tools.

Ploidy determination

We provide an independent 24-hour service for triploidy determination which is widely used by salmonid breeders and egg producers. This service delivers rapid and efficient validation of successful triploidisation with a certificate that clients can dispatch with their egg shipments.

Sex determination in salmonids

We can provide rapid sex determination from fertilised ova to adult fish – an excellent way to manage stock control and check supplier quality for all-female fish. Results are usually returned within 5 days.

Custom-built for aquaculture

Our laboratory was specifically designed for processing and analysing aquaculture samples for selective breeding programmes at scale. Every year we process over 100,000 samples. By operating fully in-house facilities rather than relying on external suppliers, we guarantee exceptional quality and one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. This gives our clients improved control over timescales and the flexibility to respond to the fast-changing nature of aquaculture production.

Highly accurate and flexible

We use a range of Illumina (^TM) sequencers, including the NextSeq1000 & MiSeq for in-house genomic selection programmes. We use a flexible sequencing approach that allows us to add new SNP markers to expand and fine-tune our custom-made SNP panels for maximum accuracy.

A full suite of genetic tools

Xelect has developed well performing genetic tools (client tailored SNP panels) for a wide range of speices including salmonids, shrimps, sea bass and sea breams amongst others.