Sample Preparation and Shipment
A shipping address will be provided once your sample submission templates are approved by an administrator. Approval is required before shipping samples. Samples that are shipped without approval will incur storage and/or return shipping and labor fees.
Sample Preparation:
Nucleic acids should be dissolved in TE (10 mM Tris, EDTA 1.0 or 0.1 mM, pH 7.5-8). The elution buffer included in Qiagen DNA extraction kits (AE, which is 0.1XTE) is also fine. DNA/RNA concentrations do not need to be standardized across the plate. To avoid additional processing fees, samples should be within the range of concentrations stated in the User guide section: Nucleic Acid Quality Considerations.
The “blank” well(s) of plates should be empty (devoid of liquid). These wells are used as negative controls for DNA sequencing. On arrival, plates are checked to confirm that this well is empty. If liquid is present in the “blank”, plates may be rejected.
Plates and Sealing Methods:
Samples should be shipped in semi-skirted, full or non-skirted 96-well PCR plates. We recommend Eppendorf twin.tec, semi-skirted plates, #951020303 with caps from ABGene #AB-0783. Plates should be sealed well with caps or heat seals to avoid leaking and sample cross-contamination. All other methods of sealing (including silicone mats and adhesive seals) will result in rejection of samples. Small numbers of samples may be shipped in clearly labeled, well-sealed microtubes.
Shipping Methods:
We recommend shipping DNA samples at ambient temperature or with ice packs or. Dry Ice is not required. Wrap plates well in bubble wrap or other cushioning to prevent plate damage during transit. Plates should be labeled clearly with your project, plate name and date. This information should also be printed and included as an enclosure inside the box used for shipment.
RNA samples may be shipped to us in one of three ways:
1) As Eluted RNA (dissolved in TE or RNase-free water). This should be shipped frozen on dry ice. Wrap plates well in bubble wrap or other cushioning to prevent plate damage during transit. We reccomend placing plates in a PCR tube rack. (e.g.https://www.southernlabware.com/96-well-pcr-prep-rack-blue-5-pack-3492.html) Plates should be labeled clearly with your project, plate name and date. This information should also be printed and included as an enclosure inside the box used for shipment. If RNA is recieved unfrozen, samples will be rejected.
2) As an ethanol precipitate* in screw cap tubes with rubber gaskets at ambient temperature.
3) As an ethanol precipitate* in a plate. Heat seal Plate thoroughly. Send at ambient temperature. leaking plates will be rejected.
*Add 0.1 volumes 3M sodium acetate, mix, add 3 volumes of 100% ethanol, mix, do not spin down.
Storage & Return of DNA or RNA Samples:
The Genomics Projects group within the Genomics Facility performs high throughput library preparation at the plate level. We only have enough space to store submitted DNA or RNA sample plates for 3 months. If you need to have your samples returned to you, please email Biotechnology Resource Center Genomics Projects <brc_genomics-projects@cornell.edu> right after the library preps are complete to arrange their return. We are too busy to notify all researchers when we need to throw out old DNA or RNA sample plates to free up freezer space.
Version 4 Updated 2019-04-04