deMULTIplex2: robust sample demultiplexing for scRNA-seq

Abstract

Sample multiplexing enables pooled analysis during single-cell RNA sequencing workflows, thereby increasing throughput and reducing batch effects. A challenge for all multiplexing techniques is to link sample-specific barcodes with cell-specific barcodes, then demultiplex sample identity post-sequencing. However, existing demultiplexing tools fail under many real-world conditions where barcode cross-contamination is an issue. We therefore developed deMULTIplex2, an algorithm inspired by a mechanistic model of barcode cross-contamination. deMULTIplex2 employs generalized linear models and expectation–maximization to probabilistically determine the sample identity of each cell. Benchmarking reveals superior performance across various experimental conditions, particularly on large or noisy datasets with unbalanced sample compositions.