Frequently Asked Questions

About FAST-NA Cloud


What is FAST-NA® Cloud?
A cloud-based bioinformatics service for submitting FASTA-formatted nucleic acid sequences and receiving biosecurity screening results through a web portal or REST API.

What is FAST-NA® Scanner?
The underlying tool used by FAST-NA Cloud that analyzes submitted nucleic acid sequence data and returns structured screening results to support sequence review, pathogen detection, and related bioinformatics workflows.

What type of data can I scan?
FAST-NA Cloud currently supports FASTA-formatted nucleic acid sequence data. You can paste FASTA text directly into the portal or upload a file.  

What can FAST-NA® Cloud be used for?
Sequence review prior to synthesis, ordering, analysis, or downstream use. Common applications include DNA sequence screening, pathogen-related sequence review, and synthetic biology workflows, depending on your organization’s process.

Plans & Accounts

Do I need an account?
Yes. An account is required to purchase a plan and access your organization’s credentials.

What plans are available?
Basic, Standard, Plus, Library, and Unlimited plans are available, with optional add-ons shown during selection. Choose based on how often you scan and how many sequences you typically submit:

  • Basic
    • For occasional scans of genes, plasmids, or small viruses
  • Standard
    • For frequent scans of genes, plasmids, or viruses
  • Plus
    • For batch scanning (e.g., 96-well plates)
  • Library
    • For large oligo pools or DNA libraries
  • Unlimited
    • For high-volume or highly automated workflows
  •  White Glove is available for organizations that need custom installation and integration; contact support@fastnascanner.com to discuss on-premises options.  

Where do I purchase a plan?
Visit the Products page.

How do I get started after purchasing?

  1. Create an account or sign in.
  2. Select a plan and complete checkout.
  3. Wait for the fulfillment email (review may take up to two business days).
  4. Retrieve your organization Account ID and API key.
  5. Log in to the portal and begin scanning.

API Access & Keys

Is there an API?
Yes. The REST API that powers the portal can be used directly for automation and workflow integration. Contact support@fastnascanner.com for integration guidance.

Information on the REST API:
• REST API Documentation
• Example python script

When will my API key be available?
Your API key is available after your order has been reviewed, approved, and fulfilled. You will receive an email notification when it is ready.

Where do I retrieve my API key?
On the API Key Distribution page, where you can reveal the masked key and click to copy it.

Can I save or copy my API key?
Yes. Store it securely and share only with authorized users in your organization.

Using the Portal

Where is the portal?
Access the FAST-NA Cloud Portal.

A step-by-step guide is available with instructions for portal access, sequence submission, and results review. 

How do I run a sequence scan, and what results will I receive?
1. Log in using your Account ID and API key.
2. Paste FASTA text or upload a FASTA file.
3. Select Scan to submit your sequence data.

When the scan completes:

  • Each sequence is labeled Cleared (no risks detected) or Flagged (one or more regions matched a biosecurity risk).
  • On-screen results explain what was detected and why, including links to external reference information when available.
  • A JSON results file downloads automatically for use in downstream workflows.
  • If your plan includes Visualization, BED files also download, allowing you to review alignments in genome browsers or design tools.

Compliance & Security

What regulations does FAST-NA help me comply with?
FAST-NA Scanner follows the IGSC Harmonized Screening Protocol and detects controlled sequences from all pathogens and toxins listed in the IGSC Restricted Pathogen Database under U.S., EU, and Australia Group controls. FAST-NA Scanner has also passed independent compliance testing conducted by IBBIS against NIST standards. 

Does FAST-NA Cloud comply with ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type II?
RTX BBN operates under U.S. government contracting security requirements that provide similar guarantees, including DFARS and NIST 800-171. BBN’s representations and certifications for purposes of U.S. government contracting are available via SAM.gov.

Does FAST-NA Cloud use my submitted data?
No. Submitted data is used only to produce screening results and is deleted immediately after each scan. Data submitted to FAST-NA Cloud is not used for AI training or any other purpose. 

Troubleshooting

My API key does not appear. What should I do?
Confirm you received the fulfillment email. If the key is still missing, contact support@fastnascanner.com.

I can’t log in to the portal. What should I do?
Verify your Account ID, API key, and that your subscription has been fulfilled. If issues persist, contact support@fastnascanner.com.