Nightingale has a laboratory information management system (LIMS) developed in-house for tracking sample processing. Each step performed in the laboratory is documented into our database and a full analysis log for each sample can later be retrieved for inspection.
Our method keeps the samples essentially intact. The samples go through minimal sample preparation: there are no extraction steps, and only a phosphate buffer is added to each sample. This ensures that all your samples remain in a physiologically representative state: they are essentially the same as they were at the time when the samples were drawn.
1. When your samples arrive at our laboratory, our laboratory staff first check the condition of the samples, i.e. that they have remained at -80 °C throughout the shipping. In all cases, you will receive a confirmation email from our logistics team confirming that your samples have arrived safely and in prime condition.
2. Your samples will then be placed in a freezer at -80 °C until the time of planned measurement.
3. As a first step of the measurement protocol, the samples will be thawed overnight at +4 °C (the exact time of when this takes place can be provided to you upon request).
4. Before the samples are prepared, we mix them gently, and after that the samples are centrifuged (3200xG, 3 min, +4 °C).
5. The sample preparation takes place as described below:
o The samples are prepared at ambient temperature (time in room temperature between 30 min and 2 h, the exact time can be provided upon request).
o The sample material is transferred into NMR tubes using an automated 8-channel liquid handler that mixes each sample with phosphate buffer.
o We start from well A1 and proceed column by column (i.e. samples A1-H1 are transferred and mixed simultaneously).
6. The samples are measured in an NMR spectrometer in a specific order (A1, B1, C1… etc.) at +37 °C.
7. The remaining sample material, i.e. the surplus material not used for the analysis, is placed back to -80 °C in the old vials with old caps (if you send us new caps, we will use those and discard the old ones).
o Please note the requirements for the vials.
o If your vials do not meet the requirements, do let us know about it in advance to avoid extra costs.
8. After analysis, the remaining sample material (i.e. the surplus material not used for analysis) will be either destroyed or returned to you based on your decision.
9. The used NMR samples will be destroyed. The disposal will be done according to our laboratory procedures – all biohazard waste is transported to special disposal treatment.