Sample Submission

Please email us (massspec @ st-andrews.ac.uk)fill the submission form SLS 210215 form prior to sending your sample so  that we can discuss the aim of the analysis and the different mass spec approaches to achieve the best results.  We can also give you an estimated idea of analysis time, which depends on our current workload but is usually within 5 days of receiving the sample.  All samples should be submitted with the form.

For a gel band we like to be able to see a band.  Coomassie, Silver and Sypro bands are all analysable.  Please cut out your band carefully avoiding any excess gel, see this example for guidance. How to cut out a gel band

Samples in solution for intact mass analysis or identification, should ideally be at 10-20uM and preferably 10-20ul volume to give us apotions to try different conditions if necessary.  Sample must be free of detergent.

How to send a sample

Please post your samples to the address on the Contact us page.

Gel samples should be placed in a 1.5ml eppendorf tube with ~10ul of water, sealed with parafilm and labelled clearly.  It is fine to post gel samples at room temperature.  Please post in a padded envelope if using the normal Royal Mail postal system as we have had eppendorfs pop open due to being passed through the rollers in the mailrooms.

Solution samples, it is entirely sample dependent whether you post at room temp, on ice or on dry ice.  You know your sample best.  We would recommend that you don’t post the sample on a Thursday or Friday as there is a danger that it will not arrive before the weekend so may spend the weekend in the back of a delivery van.

Publication

If the analysis makes a significant contribution to a publication, then we would expect the member of the facility that carried out the majority of the analysis to be included as an author.

Confidentiality

All samples, sequences, results or proposals are treated in confidence and the information only discussed or chared between the facility staff.  No results will be discussed -either at internal seminars or external conferences – without the researchers permission. Data is archived on a university server which is only accessable by the facility staff, and the Mascot search results restricted to individual research groups and password protected.

massspec @ st-andrews.ac.uk