Sample Submission and Service Charge

Samples should be brought or sent to:

Mass Spectrometry Laboratory
UCL School of Pharmacy
29/39 Brunswick Square
London WC1N 1AX

Sample Type-Specific Guidelines

A. Small Molecules, Peptides, and Polymers

• Samples must be filtered and particle-free (syringeless filter vial preferred).
• Submit 0.5 – 1 mg solid or 100 – 1000 µL liquid with 0.5-1mg/ml concentration sample in a screw-cap vial.
  • Liquids should be high-nM to low-µM in concentration.
• Specify:
  • Solvent used
  • Molecular formula and target exact mass
  • Sample name
  • UCL project code (samples without code will not be run)
• Avoid: salts, buffers, surfactants, DMSO, DMF, aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene).
• Electrospray samples should be prepared in:
  • Methanol
  • Acetonitrile/water mixtures
  • Chloroform/methanol mixtures

B. Proteins and Proteomics (Without Sample-Prep Service)

• Samples must be desalted (e.g. ZIP-C18).
• Prepare in 0.1% formic acid (LC-MS-grade water).
• Sample must be visually transparent.
• Minimum volume: 20 µL
• Concentration: 0.5 – 1 mg/mL
• Specify:
  • Species (default database = Human proteome)
  • Digestion reagent(s)
  • Reduction reagent(s)

Concentration range:

Typically in the micromolar range or 1mg/mL.

Solvents:

Samples should be dissolved or diluted in HPLC-grade:

• Water
• Acetonitrile (ACN)
• Methanol (MeOH)
• Or mixtures of the above.

Small amounts of DMSO may be used only when necessary for solubility.

Filtration (mandatory):

Samples must be filtered and completely free of particulate matter prior to analysis.

Use one of the following methods:

• Syringeless filter vial (e.g. Whatman-type) — preferred
• 0.3 µm syringe filter into a clean LC vial

⚠️ Unfiltered samples are not acceptable, even if they appear clear.

One of the main causes of LC-MS downtime is tubing and capillary blockage from poorly prepared samples.

Do NOT submit samples containing:

• Inorganic salts
• Polymeric substances (e.g. PEGs)
• Highly coloured materials
• Very non-polar compounds (may not elute)
• High concentrations of acids, bases, corrosives, or organic solvents

Labelling:

• Label vials with your initials and a reference number.
• Indicate any toxic or hazardous samples clearly.
• Unlabelled or improperly prepared samples will not be run.

Rates

Contact Us

Telephone: 020 7753 5805/4834
Staff Email: 
andrew.weston@ucl.ac.uk 
jiajin.he.19@ucl.ac.uk

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