UCL Cancer Institute

DNA Sequencing

Our facility uses state of the art AB sequencing technology to provide high quality reads, fast. Result analysis and troubleshooting come as standard.

Standard Service

• Turn around time of 1 working day at £3.99 per reaction
  (Samples received by 1pm will be processed overnight. The results will be sent before 12pm on the following working day.)
• High quality results, with read lengths between 800 and 1000 bases at Phred20.
• Variety of protocols to successfully sequence 'difficult' templates
• Full explanation of results, with advice on how to improve results
• There is a minimum of two controls included on every sample plate - the results of which can be sent along with customer results.
• Free repeat if there is a possibility of error on our part (very rare!)
  

Technical

The quantity and quality of template DNA should be determined by agarose gel electrophoresis, or you may use the NanoDrop spectrophotometer which we have in our lab. This is very important to ensure good results. It is also very important that the template is re-suspended in dH2O.

We recommend

QIAGEN Qiawell and QIAprep (Mini-Prep) DNA isolation protocols (dsDNA and ssDNA).

QIAGEN Qiaquick PCR purification protocol (PCR products).

We require 10µl of template per reaction provided in 1.5ml eppendorf tubes at a concentration of:

• 100ng/µl for plasmids
• 1ng/µl per 100bp for PCR product

Primers

We have 9 standard primers in stock. Please check the sequences to be sure they are correct for your requirements. If using your own primers please provide them at a concentration of 2-5pmoles/µl, allowing 6µl per reaction.

Sample Submission

Please note that we will no longer accept paper forms after March 1st 2012. Completed forms should now be emailed to oldrmgzdna@wibr.ucl.ac.uk. New versions of our forms can be downloaded using the links below. Samples should be submitted in the bags labelled with your name, department and telephone number. Our main collection point is in the deliveries office at the rear of the Cruciform Building. We have other collection points around UCL, please contact us for details of these.

Results

The results are sent out as either ".ab1" (tracefile viewable in any standard viewer*) or text files, or both. These are emailed to users as soon they have been analysed, along with comprehensive feedback. For added confidence in our service, we will happily send users the results from the control reactions associated with their samples. Users wishing to discuss results can call us on one of the numbers below, or email us. We will respond on the same day.

* Recommended viewers include, FinchTV, AB SequenceScanner

Prices