What is the purpose of the pre-examination staff review for sequence listings?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The pre-examination staff review at the USPTO serves a crucial role in ensuring that patent applications containing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence disclosures comply with formal requirements before examination begins.

According to MPEP 2414.01:

“Initial review by the pre-examination staff at the USPTO checks for compliance with formal matters. In order to ensure that an application is ready for examination, pre-examination staff check that applications containing disclosures of nucleotides and/or amino acids have complied with the sequence listing rules.”

This review process helps identify any deficiencies in the sequence listing requirements early in the application process, allowing applicants to address these issues promptly and prevent potential delays or abandonment of the application.