{"id":448,"date":"2022-08-10T10:20:30","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T14:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/gsl\/?page_id=448"},"modified":"2026-04-22T20:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T00:15:06","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/gsl\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

General<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Where are you located?<\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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The main GSL facility<\/strong> is located on the second floor (room 2518) of Thomas Hall on the North Campus of NC State University. The GSL Plant Genotyping Facility<\/strong> is located on the second floor (rooms 2364 and 2368) of the Plant Sciences Building on Centennial Campus. For maps and contact information, visit Contact Us<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How do I submit a project to you and what forms do I need to fill out?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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The GSL uses an online Lab Submission system for projects. For more information on access, as well as a user\u2019s guide, please see our How To Submit Projects<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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What time can I stop by to drop off samples?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Our hours for sample drop-off are 9 AM until 4 PM Monday through Friday. We ask that if you want to stop by during lunch (12-1 PM) that you call ahead to confirm your plans (919-513-3882).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Can I schedule a meeting to discuss a project I had in mind? How do I get a quote?<\/strong>
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Of course! We encourage you to discuss your sequencing project needs with us. Please email or call Kelly (919-515-2012; kafridey@ncsu.edu<\/a>) to set-up a time.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you accept projects from outside of NC State University or outside of the United States?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Yes. We have many customers from all over the country and around the world. Please call or email Kelly (919-515-2012; kafridey@ncsu.edu<\/a>) for questions about billing concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Are your prices different for NC State customers, other universities, or for businesses?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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All academic or U.S. federally-funded parties are currently charged the same use rates. Other parties or businesses, please Contact Us<\/a> to discuss pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you offer downstream bioinformatics analysis services?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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We are strictly a wet lab and unfortunately do not offer bioinformatic services. Our endpoint deliverables are demultiplexed .fastq files (Illumina) or .bam files (PacBio). Please contact the NC State Bioinformatics Consulting and Service Core (genomicsci-support@ncsu.edu<\/a>) to schedule a consultation to discuss your research needs after receiving your data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do offer a draft contig assembly for our Phage Sequencing Service using CLC Genomics Workbench. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

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Sunsetting Select Services<\/h2>\n

Effective Feb. 2, 2026, the GSL will no longer offer Sanger sequencing or fragment genotyping, as part of a broader effort to streamline our services.<\/p>\n \n

\n \n Learn more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Next Generation Sequencing<\/h2>\n\n\n
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What kind of NGS library preps do you offer?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Please see our NGS Library Prep page for more information on the types of NGS library preparation services we offer.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How much DNA\/RNA do I need to submit for Next Generation Sequencing Library preps?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Although it depends on the specific type of NGS library prep you are interested in, a good starting point is 1-2 \u03bcg of HMW DNA or RNA in a volume of 40-50 \u03bcl (20-50 ng\/\u03bcl). If you are unable to prepare this amount, or need more information on specific library prep requirements, please contact the GSL team<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you accept user-prepared NGS libraries for sequencing?<\/strong>
<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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We do accept user prepared libraries for sequencing, under the following criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Illumina libraries<\/em>, we require a final pooled library at 10 nM (we do not offer pooling services). For each lane or flow cell requested, please provide a volume of 30 \u03bcL. If your library is significantly lower than 10nM<\/em>, please contact us<\/a> to see if it can be sequenced. Note:<\/em> if requesting a full NovaSeq S4 flow cell, please submit a volume of 120 \u03bcL (4 XP lanes per flow cell).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For PacBio libraries<\/em>, please provide a final library pool at 20 ng\/\u03bcL with at least a 10 \u03bcL volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

** Disclaimer 1** – the GSL adds a mandatory QC charge of $32.00, which is necessary for proper loading. While we will report any issues we see with the library QC spectra to customers before sequencing, the GSL cannot guarantee results for libraries we do not make<\/em>, and will need to charge regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

** Disclaimer 2** – for single XP lane options<\/em> (Illumina NovaSeq 6000), customer libraries must allow standard Illumina index and read cycling settings, with no custom primer addition, as these impact other lanes on the flow cell. Whole flow cell selections do not require this. Please Contact Us<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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What type of Next Generation Sequencing services do you offer?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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We currently house two Illumina MiSeq sequencers, one NextSeq 2000 sequencer, one NovaSeq 6000 sequencer, and one PacBio Sequel IIe in our facilities. Please see our NGS Platforms<\/a> page for more information on these types of NGS sequencers.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How do you recommend shipping RNA or DNA to your lab?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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We recommend shipping DNA overnight with freezer packs. For RNA we recommend shipping on dry ice, with the total RNA in nuclease-free water (50 \u03bcl). If the sample is mRNA, please contact the GSL to determine the appropriate volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please see our Contact Us<\/a> page for facility shipping information.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

DNA and RNA Extractions<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Do you offer DNA extraction as a service<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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The GSL offers high-throughput DNA extraction services using either the LGC Oktopure or Thermo Kingfisher robotics platforms. For more information, please visit our HT DNA isolation page, as well as our DNA extraction guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you extract RNA for customers?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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The GSL does offer RNA extractions under certain conditions<\/em>. Please see our RNA extraction guidelines for more information on this service.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bioanalyzer, Tapestation and BluePippin<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Do you offer DNA\/RNA sample QC services?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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The GSL offers a variety of \u00e0 la carte QC services for DNA and RNA. Please visit our DNA\/RNA Sample QC page for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do I need to submit a separate Bioanalyzer\/Tapestation request form if I am also requesting NGS library prep and sequencing?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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No.<\/em> For NGS project submissions<\/a>, Bioanalyzer and Tapestation QC components are included directly in the NGS form. Users should only fill out a Bioanalyzer\/Tapestation request form if they just want QC services <\/em>(for example, if you are testing different isolation protocols or making your own NGS libraries). The GSL only accepts small, disposable sample aliquots for this service<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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What concentration range should my samples be for RNA QC (Bioanalyzer)?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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For the RNA Pico chip, please bring your samples at a concentration of 1-5 ng\/\u03bcL. For the RNA Nano chip, samples may be at 50-200 ng\/\u03bcL.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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What concentration\/size range should my samples be for DNA QC (Tapestation)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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We offer five different Tapestation assays. For HMW genomic DNA (100 bp to 60 kb) please bring your samples at a concentration of 10-100 ng\/uL. If you are interested in fragments between 100 and 1000 bp, samples should be at 0.1 – 50 ng\/uL for the D1000 assay or 10-1000 pg\/uL for the High Sensitivity D1000.  If you are interested in fragments between 100 and 5000 bp, samples should be at 0.1 – 50 ng\/uL for the D5000 assay or 10-1000 pg\/uL for the High Sensitivity D5000. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How much sample do I need to bring?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Please bring 3-5 \u03bcl of each sample, at the appropriate concentration, in 1.7 mL tubes, labeled clearly. For picogreen or HT services, please submit your samples in a 96w plate, arranged by column<\/em> (not rows).<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How do I prepare my samples for BluePippin size selection?<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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BluePippin samples should be submitted in exactly 30 \u03bcl of EB, TE, or water. For more information about this service, please visit our BluePippin page.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Other Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Do you let customers use your lab equipment?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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While many of our instrumentation can be used only by GSL staff, we do operate and maintain shared user equipment at both our main GSL facility and the Plant Genotyping facility that is available for use after training. Please see our Shared User Equipment section for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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How do I request shared instrument access and get trained?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Training requests and use scheduling are made through the GSL Lab Submission<\/a> system. For a user\u2019s guide to using this system, please see our How to Submit Projects<\/a> page.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you offer qPCR services, or set up qRT-PCR plates?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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No. We offer qPCR instrumentation use as shared equipment, and our customers set up their own assay plates and run them. Training requests and use scheduling are made through the GSL Lab Submission<\/a> system.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n

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Do you train customers on how to prepare NGS libraries?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/summary>\n

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Currently we cannot offer direct in person training due to our work volume. We can provide customers with a review of relevant protocols, and further Q&A. Additional opportunities for NGS library prep training, as well as other applications, may be available periodically through the NC State University Biotechnology<\/a> program.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n <\/details>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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