Sample Submission Center​

·    For 200 µL strip tubes and microcentrifuge tubes, choose a sturdy, steady-close brand with caps that snap firmly in place. Avoid brands known for loose-fitting caps or caps that pop open easily.  

·    Do not reuse tubes or containers that previously held hazardous or chemical materials.

·    Close each cap firmly until it clicks or is fully sealed. Check every tube by inverting it gently before packing.

·    Wrap Parafilm around the entire strip after capping. Stretch it snugly over all caps to hold them closed even if one flexes during transit.

·    Place sealed tubes into a rigid secondary container (a hard plastic tube rack box, small hard-shell case, or 50 mL conical tube) to prevent caps from being crushed or forced open in transit.

·    Add absorbent material (e.g. paper towel) around tubes inside the hard container if there is a risk of leakage.

·    For plates, seal with a heat seal or a snug-fitting cap/foil seal. Adhesive film alone is not sufficient for shipping.

·    Tape the plate inside a rigid secondary container (e.g. plastic rack, a tip box insert) or wrap it in bubble wrap to prevent the plate from twisting, bending, or flexing during transit.

·    Add absorbent material (e.g. paper towel) around the plates inside the hard container if there is a risk of leakage.

1.    Place the rigid secondary container(s) into a sturdy outer shipping box with enough cushioning (bubble wrap or foam) to prevent movement.

2.    Before sealing the box, do a final count: check every tube and/or plate in your order is physically present.

3.    Do not include ice packs or dry ice unless your sample type specifically requires cold-chain shipping: 

• a. Standard DNA, RNA (excluding RNA for NGS), overnight culture, colony suspension, yeast colony, glycerol stock, and agar plate submissions: ship at room temperature via an Express or First-Class carrier (FedEx, UPS, DHL, or USPS).

• b. Temperature-sensitive samples (e.g. RNA for NGS): Use an insulated box with frozen cold packs or dry ice.

4.   Always include a printed packing slip for your order(s) inside the sample bag (preferred) or shipping box.

5.   Ship early in the week to avoid samples sitting in transit or a carrier facility over the weekend. We cannot guarantee proper retrieval of a package if it arrives at our production sites over the weekend.