Sample Submission & Forms

      Sample Submission Form

      To arrange for sample drop-offs, please contact: Dr. Tonya N. Zeczycki

      Please print and fill out a sample submission form prior to arriving at the Mass Spectrometry Core facilities with your sample.

      A completed form must accompany ALL samples submitted to the Mass Spectrometry facilities.

      Download sample submission form (PDF)

      All users must contact core facilities staff prior to submission.

      If you have prepared your own untargeted metabolomic or proteomic samples for analysis without the help of the core facilities staff, please make note of the following: 

      • Use appropriate solvents for your samples:
        • Acetonitrile
        • Methanol
        • Water 
      • If your compound is not soluble in one of these solvents, you may add small amounts of DMSO.
        • The final amount of DMSO may not exceed 0.1% (v/v). 
      • Appropriate modifiers include volatile organic acids and buffers at 1% concentration or less:  
        • Acetic acid
        • Formic acid
        • TFA (trifluoroacetic acid)*
        • Ammonium acetate

      *We have found that substituting formic acid in place of TFA for most applications does not alter the chemistry and prevents ion suppression and adduct formation. If possible, we recommend substituting formic acid for TFA if your experiments allow.  

      • In general, most untargeted proteomics samples are best supplied in 98%:2% (v:v) water:acetonitrile supplemented with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid. Global metabolomics samples can be supplied in 50:50% (v/v) water:acetonitrile or  50:50% (v/v) water:methanol with 0.1% formic acid.  
      • Avoid non-volatile buffers like sodium phosphate, which can suppress ionization and clog the electrospray source. 
      • Avoid detergents which can suppress ionization of your sample and are difficult to remove from the instrument. PEG, glycerol and detergent are not amenable to mass spectrometry analysis and must be removed prior to sample submission. 
      • Never use mineral acids like HCl or sulfuric acid, which can damage stainless steel instrument components. 
      • Ensure your samples are completely in solution, and that they will not precipitate out under the analysis conditions. Samples may need to be passed through 0.25 micron filters or Zip-tips for extra clean-up steps.  
      • Ideal digested peptide concentrations are 0.25 mg/mL and at least 15-20 µL of sample. Analysis on lower sample volumes/concentrations can be attempted, but results are not guaranteed.
      Completed submission forms MUST accompany all samples.