Yes, you can send raw, unpreserved samples to our lab, but there are some essential guidelines to ensure your samples arrive in the optimum condition.
Important Guidelines for Sending Raw Samples
Unpreserved samples are more prone to degradation, so it’s crucial to send them overnight in a cooler with ice packs. This way, the sample’s microbial composition remains as stable as possible, preserving the accuracy of your test results. Additionally, always ensure your samples are accompanied by a LuminUltra Chain of Custody (COC) form—this documentation helps us keep track of your samples and ensures they are handled with the utmost care.
Please Note: LuminUltra does not ship back coolers sent to our lab, so make sure to use a cooler that does not need to be returned.
Why We Recommend Using Our Preservation Kits
For the most reliable and hassle-free results, we recommend our Preservation Kits, which stabilize samples and reduce the need for special shipping arrangements. These kits help maintain sample integrity, giving you more consistent and accurate data.
Figure 1. Microbial community changes (Next Generation Sequencing of 16s rRNA gene) in a water sample after 2 weeks storage, with and without preservation.
To learn more about how preservation can improve your results, take a look at our How does GeneCount qKit Preserve improve microbial sample preservation? article. This guide breaks down how these kits support data quality, so you get reliable results every time.
Additional Sample Preparation Charge
Please Note: If you send raw, unpreserved samples, there will be an additional sample preparation and preservation charge per sample. This fee covers the necessary steps to stabilize and prepare unpreserved samples upon arrival at our lab.
If you have further questions about sample requirements or would like assistance in selecting the best preservation option, feel free to reach out to our LuminUltra Support Team.