Analytical & Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility

RRID:SCR_023370

Sample Submission

Where to Bring Your Samples:

Analytical and Biological Mass Spectrometry Facility
University of Arizona
BIO5, Keating Building, Room 124J (Lab) / 111F (Office)
1657 East Helen Street
Tucson AZ 85721

Notification of Results

You will be notified promptly by email and/or phone as soon as your sample(s) have been analyzed and results are ready.
You can pick up a hardcopy of your results anytime during business hours.

Electronic Results/Reports

For most types of data, results can be sent to you by email if requested on the sample submission form.

However, please stop by the MS Facility if you have any questions about the results, need help understanding the data, or would like consultation about sample preparation or mass spectrometry for your proteomics research.

See the tables below for normal sample turn-around times, based on the type of analysis requested.

Turn-around times

MALDI

 
Type of MS Analysis Expected Turn-Around Time*
MALDI/ToF – general or routine samples (e.g., peptides, small molecules). Up to 3 days
MALDI/ToF – general or routine samples. (e.g., accurate-mass measurements (positive or negative-ion)). Up to 3 days
MALDI/ToF – non-routine samples (e.g., samples requiring method development, unusual preparation, or special analysis conditions). Up to 15 days

Electrospray (ESI)

 
Type of MS Analysis Expected Turn-Around Time*
ESI/MS – general or routine samples (e.g., intact proteins, DNA, small molecules). Up to 5 days
ESI/MS/MS – non-routine samples (e.g., MS/MS structure work; daughter, parent, or neutral-loss analyses). Up to 5 days
ESI/MS or ESI/MS/MS – non-routine samples (e.g., samples requiring method development). Inquire
ESI/FTMS – routine samples (e.g., accurate mass measurement (positive-ion), accurate mass measurement (negative-ion), or Peptide sequencing). Up to 3 days
LC/MS or LC/MS/MS – routine samples (e.g., small molecules or peptides). Up to 5 days
LC/MS or LC/MS/MS – non-routine samples (e.g., special chromatography conditions, method development, or special setup required). Inquire

Proteomics Samples

Type of MS Analysis Expected Turn-Around Time*
LC/MS/MS – routine samples (e.g., protein ID from gel or solution; analysis of peptide mixtures or synthetic peptides; identification of routine protein modifications (e.g., phosphorylation), IMAC purification and phosphopeptide analysis, Complex protein mixtures). Up to 15 days
NOTE: more than 6 gel bands or samples submitted at the same time may take longer.
LC/MS/MS – non-routine samples (e.g., custom protein analysis, special sample preparation, or special instrument setup, analysis of difficult or labile protein modifications, Identification of disulfide linkages). Up to 15 days
NOTE: the search for modifications or disulfide linkages sometimes requires many experiments and may take longer
ESI/MS – general or routine samples (e.g., intact protein analysis). Up to 5 days
ESI/FTMS – routine samples (e.g., peptide sequencing, accurate mass measurements (positive-ion), or Intact protein analysis (FTMS)). Up to 5 days
FTMS – non-routine samples (e.g., request for special FTMS analyses (e.g., “top-down” analysis of intact proteins), or identification of disulfide linkages). Inquire
Database Searching –Requests for additional or custom database searches, or denovo sequence searches. Up to 10 days

* Turn-around times listed are in "business days", which does not include university holidays or weekends.

Other turn-around time caveats

  • Unexpected instrument problems or down time may increase the turn-around time.
  • More than 6 gel bands or samples submitted at the same time may take longer.
  • Identification of post-translational modifications sometimes requires many experiments and may take longer.
  • Samples submitted by investigators outside The University of Arizona may take longer.