Illumina launched an early access program for a research-use-only duplex sequencing workflow aimed at improving sensitivity for molecular residual disease and tumor evolution studies. The approach targets detection of very low levels of ctDNA in plasma, using duplex chemistry to confirm base calls on both DNA strands and reduce sequencing artifacts. The workflow is paired with a NovaSeq X sequencing platform and DRAGEN bioinformatics, and supports inputs of about 5–10 ng of cell-free DNA. Illumina reported representative ctDNA detection at around 2.5 parts per million, with kits expected to ship in the first quarter of 2027. For MRD trials and longitudinal tumor evolution research, the technical shift toward duplex consensus reads could widen the feasible time windows and cancer settings where ctDNA is currently too sparse for robust signal.