The right answers to frequently asked questions
Find the answers to all our products and services by clicking the links below.
Can I send my samples without the free barcode?
Unfortunately not. This barcode is required for our internal lab processes and is essential in ensuring that we can process your samples as efficiently as possible. Thank you for your cooperation!
Can I use my local dropbox to ship samples for Clonal Amplicon Sequencing?
Yes of course.
If you don't know if there is a dropbox close by, use our dropbox location page to find out. Please click here >>
Troubleshooting guide for results
There are several reasons why your results might be different than what you expect.
To interpret your results you can have a look at our troubleshooting guide. Click here >>
Will you repeat sequencing of my sample if the sequencing fails?
For each run, we conduct multiple quality control (QC) measurements to assess the success of the library preparation and sequencing. If all the measurements indicate satisfactory results, we will not reprocess samples that have failed.
How about addressing the errors or positions with low confidence that I discovered in a homopolymer region or at a Dam or Dcm methylation site?
The prevalent error modes in Oxford Nanopore sequencing include deletions within homopolymer stretches, errors occurring at the central position of the Dcm methylation site CCTGG or CCAGG, and errors at the Dam methylation site GATC.
So please handle these regions with special care.
Why are a few terminal nucleotides missing from my linear amplicon consensus sequence?
The assembler may encounter challenges reconstructing the terminal ends of linear DNA, leading to the potential omission of approximately ~10 nucleotides from the 3' and/or 5' ends of your insert, depending on your sample's sequence.
If you observe this issue with your samples, you can address it by downloading the raw reads from your Dashboard and reconstructing the ends using your preferred method.
What level of sequencing coverage can I expect for my clonal amplicons?
We do not provide a specific coverage guarantee. The number of raw reads generated can significantly vary based on sample quality. Typically, successful samples sent at the required concentration yield a range from high dozens to hundreds (or even thousands) of raw sequencing reads.
The average coverage of your sample is included in the result report HTML, where a coverage exceeding ~20x indicates a very accurate consensus.
Can I send mixtures of amplicons?
Our amplicon service is designed for a population of molecules that is clonal.
What will happen if you send mixtures?
If your species are sufficiently distinct (e.g. vastly different in size or sequence), the pipeline will first attempt to make a .fasta consensus file from the highest abundance species. It will also attempt to make a consensus of other species with read counts that are >20% of that of the most abundant species. Ultimately, which species end up producing a consensus will vary depending on overall sample quality, coverage, and relative abundance/degradation of each species.
How can I sequence my amplicon mixture?
Eurofins Genomics offers a vast amplicon sequencing portfolio. You will definitely find the correct service for your needs: Amplicon portfolio>>