Whole Genome Sequencing sample submission guidelines

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Submitting high-quality samples is the first step to ensuring your samples pass our QC checks and receive the best sequencing results. Please review the following submission guidelines before sending in samples. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@thesequencingcenter.com for further assistance.

The sample requirements for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) projects are listed below. Samples that do not meet these requirements will be rejected. The results from our internal testing with samples that do not meet these requirements produced incomplete or poor data, so these requirements are strictly enforced.

Please contact us if you have any questions about minimum sample volumes or DNA concentration.

Sample typeMin. volumeContainerNotes
Buccal swabN/A1 buccal swab in sealed tubeNone
Blood
(whole blood)		1mL1mL - 6mL tubesBlood collection tubes must use EDTA or ACD as an anticoagulant. Vacutainer K2 EDTA blood collection tubes usually have lavender or pink caps.

Freeze blood samples immediately after collection.
Ship blood samples frozen with gel ice packs or dry ice.

DO NOT USE
- Tubes containing heparin
- Zymo Research DNA Shield tubes
Cell pellet≤ 3mL1mL - 2mL tubesCell pellets must contain at least 5M (5x10^6) cells.
Cell pellets may be suspended in PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline).
* See important note below
DNA≥ 30uL1mL - 2mL tubesConcentration ≥ 5ng/uL, Mass >=60ng.
** See important note below
Nasal swabN/A1 nasal swab in sealed tubeNone
PBMC200uL1mL - 2mL tubesCell count must be at least 5M (5x10^6) cells.
Saliva1mL1mL - 2mL tubesNone
Tissue1g1mL - 2mL tubesNone

Important Notes:

* Cell Pellets: The DNA extraction kit we use for cell pellets requires the sample to contain at least 5M (5×10^6) cells in order to yield the minimum required DNA concentration for library prep. If the sample does not contain 5M cells, The Sequencing Center cannot guarantee the extraction will meet the minimum concentration requirement. You may send multiple vials in order to meet the 5M cells requirement.

** DNA: It is essential that the DNA concentration be at least 5ng/uL. WGS results will often be incomplete if the minimum concentration is not met. The Sequencing Center uses and recommends using fluorometric methods for DNA quantitation (i.e. Qubit). If you must use a spectrophotometer for quantitation, please provide samples that exceed the minimum concentration since spectrophotometry often registers higher DNA concentrations than fluorometry.

Shipping address

The Sequencing Center
1020 Luke Street
Suite D
Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA

Packaging guidelines for primary sample container (vials)

  1. Clearly label each sample container with your sample id name. Anonymize the id and do not include patient names.
  2. Wrap each tube lid with parafilm.
  3. Place the sample tubes in a hard protective container so that tubes will not move during transit.

Packaging guidelines for secondary container

  1. Fill out and include a printed sample packing list that identifies each sample id. Email a digital copy of the packing list to our lab manager dcasey@thesequencingcenter.com.
  2. Use a leak-proof styrofoam container to store the primary sample container. Tape the lid securely to prevent it from opening.
  3. If you are shipping samples with dry ice please see our Guidelines for shipping refrigerated samples section below.

Packaging guidelines for the outer container

  1. Use a durable outer container (i.e. cardboard shipping box) to protect the inner containers. We discourage using flat shipping envelopes designed for shipping paper documents. If sample orientation is important, please affix a universally recognized “double up arrows” sticker.
  2. We strongly recommend overnight express shipping for gDNA and no longer than 2-3 day shipping for other sample types to prevent sample degradation. Avoid weekend and holiday deliveries.

Guidelines for shipping refrigerated samples

Due to continuing changes in state and federal regulations, clients should always check with their shipping department to ensure regulatory compliance.

  1. Place samples in a Styrofoam cooler with cold packs/blue ice or dry ice. Do not use wet ice to ship your samples.
  2. Place enough cushioning material (e.g. paper towels) around your samples to prevent damage from movement within the styrofoam cooler.
  3. Place the styrofoam cooler inside a cardboard box to ensure acceptance by the carrier.
    1. A new outer box without any other labels or excess tape works best. If you must re-use a box, then make sure to either remove or blackout any other pre-existing labels on the shipping box.
  4. Packages shipped with dry ice must permit the release of carbon dioxide gas. If you are submitting samples with dry ice, the outer cardboard box must have the following:
    1. A “Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods #9 hazard” label fixed to the outside of the package
    2. A label indicating “Carbon Dioxide, solid UN1845” on the outside of the package
    3. A label with the net weight of dry ice on the outside of the package
    4. An air waybill with the following information:
      1. Classification (i.e. Carbon Dioxide, solid, 9, UN1845)
      2. The number of packages
      3. The net quantity of dry ice per package
Questions? Contact us!