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Ordering

Start > Request Quote > Order > Submit Samples

Sample Submission Guidelines

Use the following guidelines to prepare and ship your samples.  Samples can be submitted in Live – agar plate/slant, glycerol stock or DNA only formats.  Some instructions are specific to the format you select as noted below.

 

Your signed Order is required to pre-verify and process your samples.  Please include the Order form in the package with your submitted samples.

 

Pure culture:  All samples submitted must be pure cultures to insure accurate analysis.  Contact ID Genomics if you need to submit mixed culture samples.

 

Shipping temperature: Except for Glycerol Stock, all live samples should be shipped at room temperature and should not be exposed to extreme temperatures to ensure the viability of the samples.

 

Caution – Excluded microbes: please do not submit live samples requiring BSL-3 or higher level laboratory handling or which can be classified as Category A according to Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances, World Health Organization.

 

Packaging and Shipping*: The following are recommended packaging and shipping methods for shipping within the USA, but you are responsible to ensure that your packaging and shipping is done in conformance with applicable national and international regulations.  Consult with your in-house shipping and safety staff, your carrier, IATA Infectious Substance Classification & Packing Guidelines, and Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances, World Health Organization for further information.

 

Shipping address: All packages should be addressed to:

ID Genomics

4000 Mason Road, Fluke Hall 225J

Seattle, WA 98195

 

Weekday deliveries only: We are not able to receive packages on Saturday.  Be sure to time shipping of time sensitive samples to deliver on Monday through Friday.

 

1. Sample preparation

a. Live samples – Agar plate / agar slant format

Live samples may be submitted as single colony cultures on agar plates or agar slants in tubes.  If you submit plates do not streak more than 8 strains per 100 mm diameter petri dish and keep each strain within its marked grid (see Labeling section below).  Agar slant tubes should contain only one sample per tube.  Live samples may require an added fee for DNA Extraction.  See Pricing section for details.

b. Glycerol Stock

Live samples may also be submitted as glycerol stock.  Extract culture grown from a single colony and mix evenly into a minimum 15% glycerol containing solution and place in a freezer compatible sealed tube.  Live samples may require an added fee for DNA Extraction.  See Pricing section for details.

c. PCR Ready DNA samples

Samples may be prepared in PCR Ready format to simplify shipping and save DNA Isolation costs.  DNA samples should be submitted in water or 10 mM Tris, pH 7.5 – 8.0. Samples must be PCR ready and from a pure culture.  Contact us if you need to submit mixed culture samples.

 

Samples may be prepared by using standard DNA purification protocols, or by the following simplified boiling protocol below.

• Re-suspend bacterial culture in 100 µl of water or 10 mM Tris.  For best results, do not use Tris-EDTA (TE) because EDTA will inhibit the PCR reaction.  Make sure to add enough bacteria so that bacterial solution is not transparent.

• Boil bacterial solution at 95°C for 10 min, spin hard to precipitate all bacterial debris, transfer cleared DNA solution into new tubes.

2. Labeling

a. Agar plates

(on the bottom of the plate)

• If plating more than one sample on a plate, draw a grid on the back of the plate with indelible ink pen and plate each culture within one grid area, being sure to keep samples well isolated.  Place no more than 8 samples per plate.

• If you submit a mixed colony sample, circle the colony you want analyzed and label it with its Customer Sample ID (within its grid area if gridded).  Customer Sample ID must match the ID entered for each sample on the Order Form (e.g., IDG-0329).

b. Agar slants and Glycerol Stock

• Label each tube with the Customer Sample ID corresponding to your Order form.

• Only one colony per tube.

c. DNA

• If shipping DNA in tubes or strip wells, label each tube with the Customer Sample ID corresponding to your Order form.

• If shipping DNA in 96-well plates, label the plate clearly with the Quote Number and company initials as listed in the Quote.  Wells should be loaded starting with the left column (A1) and loading top to bottom, then proceeding with the next column to the right (i.e., rows top to bottom, columns left to right).

• Each well / tube must have DNA from only one sample.

 

3. Recommended packaging*

• Seal each bacterial agar plate with Parafilm.  Make sure tubes are tightly capped and sealed with Parafilm. Strips with DNA must be capped and 96 well plate capped or sealed with plate sealer.  Glycerol Stock samples must be shipped on dry ice per shipping guidelines.

• Enclose a completed and signed copy of Order Form in the shipping container.

• We recommend packing according to IATA Packaging Instruction 650.

• Enclose plates and tubes in a primary container.

• Enclose primary container in secondary shipping container.

• Add absorbent and cushioning packing material to protect contents and prevent leakage.

 

4. Shipping

• Ship to the shipping address listed above.  Order tracking of your package is recommended.

• Special outer labeling on the package and inclusion of a Shipper’s Declaration of Dangerous Goods may be required, especially for packages containing Category B samples.  See IATA Packaging Instructions 650 for guidelines.

• Be sure to include the Airway Bill on the package and the Order Form inside the package.