When you begin planning your testing, please contact us at agl@appliedgenetics.com to discuss the basic requirements of your sample and confirm that AGL can accommodate your cells. At minimum we’ll need to know the following about your sample:

• Species
• Cell type
• Growth conditions (temperature, % CO2, stationary vs shaker)
• Estimated submission date

As you near your submission date, please fill out one Study Initiation Form and one signed Protocol per cell line to be analyzed. Each cell line submitted will be treated as a single study and will receive an individual final report. On the submission documents please be sure to list the cell line ID exactly as you would like it to appear in the final report. All submission documents must be completed before AGL can proceed with your testing. We recommend emailing the documents to us at agl@appliedgenetics.com prior to shipping your cells so that we can confirm adequate completion and avoid delays in processing your sample.

AGL needs actively dividing cells in order to obtain a successful chromosome harvest from your sample. Ideally, cultures will have been prepped so that they are likely to be in log phase approximately 24-48 hours after arrival at our lab (or after thawing, if submitted frozen). We request that you set up multiple flasks seeded at different densities so that we have a few options to select from when attempting chromosome harvest and to serve as backups in case of damage to any of the flasks during transport. If sending cryopreserved cells please provide at least two vials, each containing a minimum of 1e6 viable cells.

All samples received by AGL are handled under BSL-2 conditions. We are unable to accept cell samples requiring higher biosafety level conditions. Please inform us of any biological risks associated with your sample prior to submission.

Actively dividing cultures should be shipped at room temperature, surrounded with room-temperature gel packs (or similar) to stabilize temperature during transport. We recommend placing each vessel inside of a separate plastic zip-closure bag lined with paper towels prior to wrapping it securely with bubble wrap. Flasks of live cells should be filled with medium up to the bottom of the neck of the flask (see example) so that the cells remain covered during transport but the flasks are not so full that they are prone to leaking. AGL will reduce the volume of media to the amount appropriate for culture after unpacking the sample and allowing time for any cells in suspension to settle.

Cryopreserved cells must be shipped on dry ice or in a liquid nitrogen transport dewar.

Media and any other reagents may be shipped in the same box as your cells if the temperature conditions are compatible. Please do not completely fill any liquid vessels as this tends to lead to leaking. We recommend placing each vessel inside of a separate plastic zip-closure bag lined with paper towels prior to wrapping it securely with bubble wrap.

Our preferred mode of shipment is via FedEx Priority Overnight. Always check with your shipping partner to ensure your items are delivered safely to us and with all transport regulations in mind.

AGL’s cell culture team can receive live cell shipments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, barring holidays or other closures. Please notify us at agl@appliedgenetics.com at least 48 hours prior to shipping your sample.

For cell line characterization studies AGL issues hard-copy reports with wet signatures, shipped via FedEx Standard Overnight service to the sponsor’s physical address as provided on the submission documents. Final reports are typically issued within 4-6 weeks of the date of sample receipt by AGL. Factors affecting turnaround time include cells’ behavior in culture and their response to standard chromosome harvest techniques. If, for example, your cells grow slowly or do not produce metaphase spreads suitable for analysis, then turnaround times may be longer than initially anticipated. You may contact us agl@appliedgenetics.com at any time if you’d like to check on the status of your testing.

All sample submissions must be accompanied by a valid purchase order. Invoices are generated at the time that the final report is issued. AGL prefers to invoice via email using the billing email address provided on the Study Initiation Form; if another method of invoice delivery is required, please inform us at the time of sample submission. Payment terms are Net 30. We accept payment via check, ACH, and credit card. All billing inquiries should be sent to accountsreceivable@appliedgenetics.com