Sample Submission Guidelines

We accept premade libraries, purified DNA/RNA for library preparation, or fresh frozen tissues/cells, blood or saliva for DNA/RNA extraction. Once sequencing is complete, we can provide bioinformatics analysis as requested.A. Whole Blood

A minimum of 3 mL whole blood in EDTA or ACD tubes (heparin is not desired, please confer with the laboratory prior to submission), ship with cold not frozen gel-pack to minimize heat damage. If your sample amount should be limited for any reason, you may submit a reduced sample volume. Please contact us for discussing available options. DO NOT FREEZE. Submission of specimens older than 72 hours may not acceptable and may be rejected.

B. Saliva

Saliva or buccal wash with preservative shipped at ambient temperature with cold, not frozen, gel-pack if temperature along transit route is anticipated to be above 75°F.

C. FFPE

Slides or FFPE blocks should be shipped with frozen gel-pack if temperature along transit route is anticipated to be above 75°F.

D. Cell Pellets

Cell pellets purified by Ficoll gradient or differential lysis are preferred. They may be suspended in PBS or RPMI and shipped with cold, not frozen, gel-pack if temperature along transit route is anticipated to be above 75°F. Frozen cell pellets either dry or in freezing media ship frozen on dry ice. Please note the type of media on the requisition.

E. Purified DNA/RNA Samples for Library Preparation Requirement

Please submit samples in tubes provided from us (you can pick them up when you’re ready to submit) as they are used with our laboratory robotics to process the samples. Or use 1.5 ml Lo-bind microfuge tubes. Each tube must be clearly labeled numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.) followed by the sample name (ie. 1-AB10001). Tubes should be submitted in order as listed on the submission form (left to right, up to bottom, not randomly placed, and not loose/unracked) on any type of box/rack designed to hold the tubes. Sample quantification is required prior to submission. Samples should be dissolved in EDTA-free solution such as nuclease-free water or 10 mM Tris-Cl (pH 8.5). Extracted RNA must be shipped frozen on dry ice.

Please submit samples in tubes provided from us (you can pick them up when you’re ready to submit) as they are used with our laboratory robotics to process the samples. Or use 1.5 ml Lo-bind microfuge tubes. Each tube must be clearly labeled numerically (1, 2, 3, etc.) followed by the sample name (ie. 1-AB10001). Tubes should be submitted in order as listed on the submission form (left to right, up to bottom, not randomly placed, and not loose/unracked) on any type of box/rack designed to hold the tubes. Sample quantification is required prior to submission. Samples should be dissolved in EDTA-free solution such as nuclease-free water or 10 mM Tris-Cl (pH 8.5). Extracted RNA must be shipped frozen on dry ice.Please bring us undiluted libraries. We’ll do QC (Fragment Analyzer and qPCR) on all the libraries you brought, and dilute and denature them according to Illumina’s prototol. We do NOT guarantee cluster yield or quality for libraries prepared outside of the Genome Center, but we are happy to answer any questions you have regarding library preparation.

NOTE: Before making your libraries, please make sure your barcodes are compatible with Illumina Standards.

For research projects, please confirm your sample arrival date and time by email at least 48 hours ahead, to make sure that your samples will be received and stored properly.

Schedule your drop-off

Please call 412-623-7155 or email us to schedule a time to drop off your samples. Fax: 412-361-1796.

Drop-off and shipping address

Please review the FedEx holiday schedule to make sure that your samples will be delivered without delay.

MedSpeed address

If you’re using MedSpeed Courier, search Hoechstetter or our ID 172530, and it should pop up.