VANTAGE is a cost recovery core. All services provided are performed at a professional level of service, with appropriate qualitative assessment of work performed at each step in the processing of samples. We strive to provide quality service, ensuring the best possible outcome for the services provided by the Core. Our rates are comparable with other academic facilities that offer the same level and quality of service. VANTAGE provides services to both the Vanderbilt research community and investigators outside the Institution.
1. Array Services.
VANTAGE will use reasonable efforts to perform the services requested by the Investigator. QC/QA is completed on samples submitted to VANTAGE to determine which samples meet minimum recommended criteria for target reactions and hybridization. QC/QA data is posted to the Investigator and Processing of the samples does not begin until Hybridization orders are issued by the Investigator, and as such are the responsibility of the Investigator. An estimated completion date and processing schedule can be provided by the core lab after receipt of Hybridization orders, upon request of the investigator. The Investigator will be kept apprised of the project process through VANTAGE Project Management system throughout the duration of project.
2. Investigator Responsibilities.
All biological materials sent to VANTAGE ("Samples") must be properly prepared, labeled, handled, stored, packaged, and shipped. The Investigator is responsible for notifying VANTAGE of any special handling requests at the point of sample submission. All Samples must be accompanied by a Sample Submission Form ("SSF"), which confirms the services requested by the Investigator and provides a detailed inventory of the Samples submitted for processing. This form is generated after the Samples have been submitted electronically to VANTAGE online project management system. No Samples will be accepted that have not been submitted electronically prior to the physical shipment of the Samples.
3. Disclaimer.
VANTAGE' standard quality assurance tests are intended to detect low quality samples that may not perform well in our subsequent manipulations. Since VANTAGE has no control over the procedures used to isolate or prepare the submitted Samples, the quality and integrity of the submitted Samples is the responsibility of the Investigator. All Sample QC/QA data is posted to the online project management system and the Investigator is responsible for reviewing all QC/QA data. The Investigator will be notified if a Sample does not pass VANTAGE' submission quality metrics and the Investigator will be responsible for advising VANTAGE on whether or not processing should continue. The Investigator assumes full responsibility for the decision to proceed with Sample processing. The Sample submission standards, and the information that is requested for each sample before submission, are vital to the effective processing of samples. Please review the information on our web site and ask any questions before submitting samples.
Additional Sample handling fees of $10.00/Sample will apply for all Samples that do not meet submission standards for processing and must be normalized prior to processing. All reactions will be performed from single master-mix reagents, all pipetting will be performed with multichannel instruments (where appropriate) to ensure integrity, and appropriate controls will be run with each reaction set. For Reaction sets with multiple investigator submission, each Investigator Sample set may act as a reference control for reaction efficiency. Samples that fail to yield data due to VANTAGE handling during the course of processing will be repeated at no charge to the Investigator; however, Samples that fail to yield data due to circumstances beyond the control of VANTAGE are not the responsibility of VANTAGE. VANTAGE does not guarantee results. The Investigator is not exempt from charges incurred due to failed experiments through no fault of VANTAGE.
4. Samples failing QC/QA:
Any Sample deemed by VANTAGE to be insufficient, invalid, or degraded to the point of being unusable will be returned to the Investigator upon request. VANTAGE will bill for expenses related to Sample preparation, quality testing and shipping fees for each returned Sample. The Investigator will be responsible for charges incurred in the processing of replacement Samples. All replacement Samples will be submitted through the online Project Management system, and QC/QA will be performed on all replacement Samples at the usual rate. Additional fees of $5.00/Sample may apply to sample substitutions where the replacement sample is added to 96 well plates for processing. VANTAGE recommends that replacement samples be an alternate biological replicate, or a new isolation of the previously submitted sample that is to be replaced.
In the event a Sample is caused to be unusable due to a failure of a third party consumable, VANTAGE will make a reasonable effort to obtain a replacement consumable to re-perform the analysis, but in the event that a replacement cannot be obtained or the analysis cannot be re-performed, VANTAGE accepts no responsibility for the loss of Samples or unfinished analysis. In the event of subsequent preparation and testing, VANTAGE will bill for appropriate fees and costs, including the cost of additional Consumables and technical time for services provided.
5. Data Analysis:
Once the array experiments have been finished, the data will be posted to your project in a timely order. Basic analyses for different categories (as described below) will be performed.
Data acquisition such as array image scanning, feature extraction, and data normalization will be performed by VANTAGE for the following arrays and platforms: Gene Expression, Exon, and miRNA arrays on the Affymetrix, Agilent and Nimblegen platforms (Exiqon miRNA data is not provided normalized). The normalized data for Exon arrays will be provided in two levels, i.e., gene and exon levels. For Genotyping (Affymetrix Mapping, Target Genotyping, Mitochondrial resequencing), DNA methylation, or CGH arrays, results from Affymetrix Genotyping Console, Agilent Feature Extractor, or NimbleGen NimbleScan program output files will be posted.
The data posting (delivery) time for accounts in good standing will be in one week after the experiments are completed.
Advanced Analyses please contact:
The delivery time for advanced analyses will be project-based and dependent on the communication and interactions between bioinformaticians and the PI.
6. Payment for Services:
Vanderbilt Investigators: When submitting samples electronically, a valid billing center must be provided to process your order. To use a Scholarship or VICTR voucher as payment, a valid billing center must also be provided on the work order submission form to cover any balances left after application of the vouchers. Scholarship Use Policy: Scholarship vouchers can only be applied toward completed orders within the scholarship period. Scholarship vouchers are for the purchase of services of the Core. Only supplies used by Core personnel in the performance of services will be charged to a scholarship. It is the responsibility of the PI to track their scholarship usage in the Core. It is the PI's responsibility to determine when a scholarship is to be used on an order. The Core is not financially responsible for work not completed by the scholarship expiration date--The center number provided will be charged. The Core is not obligated to re-arrange its production schedule to accommodate scholarship deadlines.
Non-Vanderbilt Investigators: If applicable, an invoice for supplies will be sent and is immediately due and must be received to commence work. Once work is complete, the balance of the order will be invoiced, including any additional charges incurred to complete an order. Payment must be received prior to the release of data. A check, money order, or credit card payment is an acceptable form of payment.