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Whole genome sequencing is emerging as a promising tool for the untargeted detection of a broad range of microbial species for diagnosis and analysis. However, it is logistically challenging to perform the multistep process from sample preparation to DNA amplification to sequencing and analysis within a short turnaround time. To address this challenge, we developed a digital microfluidic device for rapid whole genome amplification of low-abundance bacterial DNA and compared results with conventional in-tube DNA amplification. In this work, we chose Corynebacterium glutamicum DNA as a bacterial target for method development and optimization, as it is not a common contaminant. Sequencing was performed in a hand-held Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencer. Our results show that using an in-tube amplification approach, at least 1 pg starting DNA is needed to reach the amount required for …