Sample submission

Please note that samples are not to be submitted to NGI until after you have received confirmation from us that your project has been accepted, and you have signed and returned your user agreement and the filled-in sample information sheet.

For queries on sample delivery and sample requirements, please get in touch with one of our project coordinators.

General routines

  1. Make sure samples fulfil our sample requirements. In case of any exceptions, please contact us so that we can discuss possible alternatives.
  2. Samples should be delivered in designated containers and be properly sealed. You will receive detailed instructions regarding how to send your samples from our project coordinators. RNA samples should be shipped on dry ice.
  3. Please ensure that you have sent us the filled-in sample submission form (sent to you by us once we have accepted your order), prior to sample delivery.
  4. Sign the agreement and e-mail it with the submission form to the contact person of the NGI node that has accepted your order.
  5. When the sample information has been verified by NGI, then we are ready to receive your samples.

Sample requirements

To find the sample requirements relevant to your project type, please visit the NGI webpage specific for that method or kit. If in doubt, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.

Note that NGI will perform a quality control of the samples to ensure that the quality and quantity is sufficient for library preparation and sequencing, or genotyping.

Preparing sample plates

Depending on the library protocol used for your project, we request that you leave the last 1-2 well(s) (G12/H12) empty on each plate. We include a negative control for some of our library preparations and for certain applications also a positive control.

Samples must be placed column-wise, starting from A1, B1, C1 and so on. Please make sure there are no empty wells between samples.

Illustration of three sample plates demonstrating one correct way (column-wise) and two incorrect ways (row-wise or leaving empty wells between samples) to load samples. The last two wells are shown in red with adjacent text stating they are to be left empty for controls.

If you are sending samples to NGI in Stockholm you should have received a Ziplock pouch with Alumaseal II plate seals. It’s important that this is applied properly to ensure that the plate is fully sealed and there can be no leakage of samples. Please leave the “wings” of the seal intact and do not remove the protective film from under them. If you’re unsure about how to apply a plate seal we have made this short video that describes the process.

How to seal plates.

The plate also need a project specific barcode label, and this should be applied to the right short side of the plate just next to column 12 (the side where it says “Eppendorf”). If you haven’t received any barcode labels please get in touch with us and we’ll give you instructions of how to label the plate.

Where to send samples

Once you have signed and returned your agreement to us, and fulfilled our sample delivery instructions, you will be able to submit samples for sequencing or genotyping.

Before sending your samples by courier or delivering them in person, please contact a project coordinator.

You can find address information under the “shipping addresses for sending samples” section on the contact page.

NGI receiving your samples

When NGI has received: 1) a signed agreement, 2) the samples, and 3) valid sample information, the samples will be assigned an arrival date. Please note that NGI cannot accept any samples without a project code and a signed agreement.

Quality Control (QC) of samples will be performed within 10 working days of the arrival date. If the samples do not pass our QC, we will let the researcher decide if replacement samples should be sent, or if NGI should proceed with the available samples. This decision has certain implications on how NGI handles the samples, see the agreement.

The samples are queued for subsequent steps when all samples have passed arrival QC. This date is the queue date.

Last Updated: 7th November 2023