Abstract
BackgroundLaboratories performing clinical high-throughput sequencing for oncology and germline testing are increasingly migrating their data storage to cloud-based solutions. Cloud-based storage has several advantages, such as low per-GB prices, scalability, and minimal fixed costs; however, while these solutions tout ostensibly simple usage-based pricing plans, practical cost analysis of cloud storage for NGS data storage is not straightforward. MethodsWe developed an easy-to-use tool designed specifically for cost and usage estimation for laboratories performing clinical NGS testing (https://ngscosts.info). Our tool enables quick exploration of dozens of storage options across three major cloud providers, and provides complex cost and usage forecasts over 1–20 year timeframes. Parameters include current test volumes, growth rate, data compression, data retention policies, and case re-access rates. Outputs include an easy-to-visualize chart of total data stored, yearly and lifetime costs, and a “cost per test” estimate. ResultsTwo factors were found to markedly decrease the average cost per test: 1) reducing total file size, including through the use of compression, 2) rapid transfer to “cold” or archival storage. In contrast, re-access of data from archival storage tiers was not found to dramatically increase the cost of storage per test. ConclusionsSteady declines in cloud storage pricing, as well as new options for storage and retrieval, make storing clinical NGS data on the cloud economical and friendly to laboratory workflows. Our web-based tool makes it possible to explore and compare cloud storage solutions and provide forecasts specifically for clinical NGS laboratories.
Highlights
Clinical laboratories are increasingly evaluating and adopting cloud storage solutions for long term storage and archival of clinical high-throughput (“next-generation”) sequencing data
While all major cloud vendors provide online calculators for calculating costs [1,2,3], these calculators have significant shortfalls in the context of a clinical laboratory: 1) they do not estimate the marginal “cost per test” or a total lifetime cost, 2) they do not provide forecasts of costs when storage requirements may increase over time, and 3) they do not support estimation of costs when different storage tiers are desired for long term archiving
Costs are listed as ranges, as they depend on the total amount of data stored, the geographic region selected for storage, and retrieval speed selected
Summary
Clinical laboratories are increasingly evaluating and adopting cloud storage solutions for long term storage and archival of clinical high-throughput (“next-generation”) sequencing data. While all major cloud vendors provide online calculators for calculating costs [1,2,3], these calculators have significant shortfalls in the context of a clinical laboratory: 1) they do not estimate the marginal “cost per test” or a total lifetime cost, 2) they do not provide forecasts of costs when storage requirements may increase over time, and 3) they do not support estimation of costs when different storage tiers are desired for long term archiving To address these needs, we have developed an easy-to-use online calculator designed for cost analysis and storage requirements estimation for laboratories performing clinical high-throughput sequencing.
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