DNA extraction

If you are interested in having us extract your samples, our standard method is Qiagen MagAttract PowerSoil 96 well kit using our Kingfisher Apex processing robot. This kit works well for most sample types. However if you are working with low biomass samples, you are going to have better luck extracting them with a method that is tuned to your sample type. We have experience with a huge variety of sample types, feel free to contact us for advice.

Library Preparation

Users who either want to control all of the library prep or who are investigating multiple targets, may want to use the 2-step Amplicon to data approach where the user does the initial PCR then we attach the indexes in a second PCR. We can also sequence user generated libraries provided that they can use either CGI or Illumina standard sequencing primers (Client Amplicon library to data). If you are interested in either Client Amplicon library to data or 2-step Amplicon to data, please contact us *before* you do any library prep.

We are very mindful of limited budgets for research so aim to provide our services as cost effectively as possible. To that end, we will attempt to generate amplicon libraries 2 times varying DNA template amounts and/or additives. We typically use 10ng DNA in 15ul PCR reactions with BSA to help with inhibitors as our starting condition. If you use other conditions for PCRing your samples, please let us know! If a sample does not generate enough library after 2 tries we will contact you to determine next steps-increase PCR cycles to 35, drastically increase or decrease template amount, or sequence one of the first attempts. Our methods are summarized here