diff --git a/seqBackupLib/illumina.py b/seqBackupLib/illumina.py
index fbe2b8e..931dd19 100644
--- a/seqBackupLib/illumina.py
+++ b/seqBackupLib/illumina.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
+import csv
 import re
+import warnings
+from collections.abc import Mapping
 from io import TextIOWrapper
 from pathlib import Path
+from urllib.error import URLError
+from urllib.request import urlopen
 
 
-MACHINE_TYPES = {
+MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK = {
     "VH": "Illumina-NextSeq",
     "D": "Illumina-HiSeq",
     "M": "Illumina-MiSeq",
@@ -11,7 +16,70 @@
     "NB": "Illumina-MiniSeq",
     "LH": "Illumina-NovaSeqX",
     "SH": "Illumina-MiSeq",
-}
+}  # Fallback mapping if machine_types.tsv is unavailable.
+MACHINE_TYPES_URL = (
+    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PennChopMicrobiomeProgram/"
+    "SampleRegistry/master/sample_registry/data/machine_types.tsv"
+)
+
+
+class MachineTypesMapping(Mapping):
+    def _mapping(self) -> dict[str, str]:
+        return load_machine_types()
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key: str) -> str:
+        return self._mapping()[key]
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return iter(self._mapping())
+
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        return len(self._mapping())
+
+
+def load_machine_types() -> dict[str, str]:
+    try:
+        with urlopen(MACHINE_TYPES_URL, timeout=10) as response:
+            content = response.read().decode("utf-8")
+    except (URLError, TimeoutError) as exc:
+        warnings.warn(
+            f"Falling back to bundled machine types; unable to load {MACHINE_TYPES_URL}: {exc}",
+            RuntimeWarning,
+        )
+        return MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK
+
+    reader = csv.reader(content.splitlines(), delimiter="\t")
+    rows = [row for row in reader if row]
+    if not rows:
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Falling back to bundled machine types; received empty machine_types.tsv.",
+            RuntimeWarning,
+        )
+        return MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK
+
+    if rows[0][0].lower() in {"instrument_code", "code"}:
+        rows = rows[1:]
+
+    mapping: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for row in rows:
+        if len(row) < 2:
+            continue
+        code = row[0].strip()
+        machine_type = row[1].strip()
+        if code and machine_type:
+            mapping[code] = machine_type
+
+    if not mapping:
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Falling back to bundled machine types; no valid rows in machine_types.tsv.",
+            RuntimeWarning,
+        )
+        return MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK
+
+    return mapping
+
+
+MACHINE_TYPES = MachineTypesMapping()
 
 
 def extract_instrument_code(instrument: str) -> str:
diff --git a/test/test_illumina.py b/test/test_illumina.py
index ada9adc..22592d0 100644
--- a/test/test_illumina.py
+++ b/test/test_illumina.py
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 import gzip
+from urllib.error import URLError
+
 import pytest
-from pathlib import Path
+
 from seqBackupLib.backup import DEFAULT_MIN_FILE_SIZE
-from seqBackupLib.illumina import IlluminaDir, IlluminaFastq, MACHINE_TYPES
+from seqBackupLib.illumina import (
+    IlluminaDir,
+    IlluminaFastq,
+    MACHINE_TYPES,
+    MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK,
+    load_machine_types,
+)
 
 
 machine_fixtures = {
@@ -16,7 +24,33 @@
 }
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("machine_type", MACHINE_TYPES.keys())
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def machine_types_urlopen(monkeypatch):
+    tsv_rows = ["instrument_code\tmachine_type"]
+    tsv_rows.extend(
+        f"{code}\t{machine}" for code, machine in MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK.items()
+    )
+    tsv = "\n".join(tsv_rows) + "\n"
+
+    class FakeResponse:
+        def __init__(self, data: str):
+            self._data = data
+
+        def read(self):
+            return self._data.encode("utf-8")
+
+        def __enter__(self):
+            return self
+
+        def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc, tb):
+            return False
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "seqBackupLib.illumina.urlopen", lambda *args, **kwargs: FakeResponse(tsv)
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("machine_type", machine_fixtures.keys())
 def test_illumina_fastq(machine_type, request):
     fixture_name = machine_fixtures.get(machine_type)
     if not fixture_name:
@@ -37,7 +71,7 @@ def test_illumina_fastq(machine_type, request):
     assert r1.check_index_read_exists()
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("machine_type", MACHINE_TYPES.keys())
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("machine_type", machine_fixtures.keys())
 def test_illumina_dir(machine_type, request):
     fixture_name = machine_fixtures.get(machine_type)
     if not fixture_name:
@@ -58,3 +92,38 @@ def test_illumina_fastq_without_lane(novaseq_dir):
         r1 = IlluminaFastq(f)
     assert r1.check_fp_vs_content()[0]
     assert r1.build_archive_dir().endswith("L001")
+
+
+def test_load_machine_types_from_tsv(monkeypatch):
+    tsv = "instrument_code\tmachine_type\nZZ\tIllumina-Test\n"
+
+    class FakeResponse:
+        def __init__(self, data: str):
+            self._data = data
+
+        def read(self):
+            return self._data.encode("utf-8")
+
+        def __enter__(self):
+            return self
+
+        def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc, tb):
+            return False
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "seqBackupLib.illumina.urlopen", lambda *args, **kwargs: FakeResponse(tsv)
+    )
+
+    machine_types = load_machine_types()
+    assert machine_types["ZZ"] == "Illumina-Test"
+
+
+def test_load_machine_types_fallback_warning(monkeypatch):
+    def raise_url_error(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise URLError("network down")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("seqBackupLib.illumina.urlopen", raise_url_error)
+
+    with pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning, match="Falling back to bundled machine types"):
+        machine_types = load_machine_types()
+    assert machine_types == MACHINE_TYPES_FALLBACK