Submission Procedure

Before submitting any samples for the first time, please contact the facility director, Susan Hatcher, in person at Room 146 OCNPS, by phone (757-683-5609) or email cosmic@odu.edu  to discuss your particular samples, the proposed analyses and techniques to be used, and your account and contact information. Also, at any time and with any new batches of samples, please contact the facility director if the kind of sample or analytical technique has changed.The more the analyst knows about the sample the better the data results are likely to be.

Samples must be submitted with a fully completed mass spectrometry submission form. Locally, samples and forms may be submitted to Room 146, Oceanography and Physics Bldg. (OCNPS) on the Old Dominion University campus, weekdays during the hours of 9AM-5PM for storage in a refrigerator or freezer. Room temperature stable samples may be left in the "in" pocket attached to the wall outside of room146, OCNPS. For long distance submission of samples, submission forms and samples may be mailed or shipped to the following address:

Susan Hatcher   Attention: Samples
Oceanography and Physics Bldg.  ,Room 143
Old Dominion University
4600 Elkhorn Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23529

All sample vials must be clearly labeled with the sample I.D. code that is written on the submission form. Usually, (Micro)g amounts of sample are sufficient for mass spec analysis. Neat samples (no solvent) are preferred unless the sample is unstable in this form. If a sample is only stable in a solvent, please make the concentration of the solution greater than 10 (Micro)M and use as little solvent as possible. Make sure to note the solution and concentration on the submission form. Please do not send samples in DMSO or DMF. Preferred solvents when necessary are MeOH, H2O, Acetonitrile, and THF. If the sample has been in contact with salts, buffers, or detergents which will suppress ionization, please desalt and clean up the samples before submitting them. Light sensitive samples should be submitted in vials that are wrapped in foil or paper with the sample I. D. label on the outside so that samples don't have to be unwrapped to be identified. All samples will be discarded unless you request that they be returned. If you would like your sample returned, please check "return sample" in the special handling box on the submission form. Because of stringent shipping requirements only local samples will be returned.Please note that a proposed molecular formula and structure are required on the submission form if an exact mass confirmation is requested.

An email will be sent informing you when the data is ready to be picked up or sent, so a legible email address and mailing address are very important.