Sample Submission Guidelines

General Principles

1. Biohazardous Materials: We do NOT accept samples containing any biohazardous materials. If your samples contain any biohazardous materials, please make sure to deactivate them completely using the appropriate procedure and declare them in the order form. In addition, we do NOT accept any samples containing Level 4 biohazardous materials even if they are deactivated. Please refer to this page for the rank of biohazardous materials.

2. Protein Concentration: All submitted samples should have protein concentration in the range of 5-20 mg/ml. Additional charge may apply on samples that require extensive amount of the extra work:

  • Protein concentrating
  • Protein eluting
  • Extensive buffer exchange
  • Remove Albumin, IgG, or other serum abundant proteins
  • Enrich Phosphorylated proteins
  • Protein fractionation

3. Sample Buffer: Please feel free to submit samples in whichever buffer that you would normally use, and specify in the order form (or by email) the buffer composition.

  • DIGE Projects: Proteins must be solubilized and fully denatured to ensure effective IEF separation. Protein samples can be in a 2D lysis buffer containing strong denaturing reagents and protease inhibitors (optional). Proper lysis buffer can vary greatly depending on the source of the samples, and should be determined empirically. If you would like to use an IEF-compatible lysis buffer, please make sure that it is free of both primary amines and sulfhydryl groups. Follow the table below for acceptable buffers:
Not AcceptableAcceptable
Reducing agents (e.g., DTT, TBP)
Buffers other than Tris
Salt (e.g., NaCl)
Ionic detergents (e.g,. SDS)
Nucleic acids
Polysaccharides
Lipids
Phenolic compounds
Insoluble material
Other small ionic molecules		Tris base (< 30 mM)
Urea
Water
Non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents (e.g. CHAPS)
  • Mass Spec Projects: Samples should preferably be serum and BSA-free as high serum or BSA concentration will greatly mask the MS signal of non-serum proteins. Please inform us if samples contain high concentration of abundant proteins such as BSA, IgG or other serum proteins. We offer customized sample preparations to remove serum albumin, IgG or other abundant proteins, coupled with modified LC-MS/MS settings, to boost the sensitivity for non-serum, low abundant proteins.