External Samples

**Please take note of our new shipping address below!**

We are currently serving researchers from 5 other UT campuses, as well as 17 external universities and national laboratories.

Please Note: We are only able to run samples from non-profit organizations (e.g. universities).

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Before sending any samples you MUST contact us in advance to obtain a Sample Submission Number. This number MUST be included on the submission form in the "Comments" section.

Samples without a Sample Submission Number WILL NOT BE RUN

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Recently we have been running hundreds of external samples each month! We welcome your business, but please be aware that our resources are limited. We are able to efficiently run accurate mass measurements on pure compounds. However, we are generally not able to undertake major projects involving quantitation, method development, or identifying large numbers of unknowns. If you are unsure what category your samples are in, please ask us before sending your samples.

Please view our Pricing page for more information.

To submit external samples:

(See the Standard Consumables page for tips about sample preparation)

Step 1: Contact us at massspec@cm.utexas.edu to obtain a Sample Submission Number. Let us know how many samples you will be submitting. If you have any doubts that your samples may not be suitable for mass spec, please also discuss that with us.

Step 2: Download and fill out a sample submission form for each sample.

External Sample Submission Form Please only use this new form!!

(This is an editable pdf form. Download the form and open it with Adobe Reader. Fill in all of the boxes and insert a pdf image of your structure. If you are having trouble inserting an image, you may need to download a newer version of Adobe Reader.)

Example of a Completed Submission Form

Step 3: Print the completed forms and tape the corresponding sample to each form. Be sure to include the sample Submission Number!

Step 4: To help us ensure that all we have accounted for all of your samples, please place a paper inside the box at the very top with a total sample count (or a sample count per submitter if the samples in one package are from multiple people). Please also e-mail us the sample count.

Step 5: Send the samples and completed forms to:

Please only send samples by FedEx or UPS! Not USPS!

Ian Riddington

The University of Texas at Austin

Department of Chemistry

WEL 4.226

105 E. 24th St.

Austin, TX 78712

(It's always a good idea to check current turnaround times. Normally it's a few days, but turnaround times may vary.)

Step 6: Samples will be run and the results will be returned to you by e-mail.

Step 7: An invoice will be sent to you early in the following month.

• We are not able to return samples.

• We do not need very much of your sample to complete the analysis. One mg or 0.5 mL is more than enough.

• Avoid sending your samples in plastic vials! The mass spectrometer can detect many peaks from the plastic itself and they can interfere with the ionization and analysis of your targets.

• If your sample degrades, then consider sending it in a Styrofoam cooler with dry ice. (Keep in mind it will be sitting in a truck in the Texas heat!)

• We really do need an image of the structure to help with our analysis. If you are having trouble uploading an image into the submission form, please draw it or attach a separate ChemDraw printout.

• If you are unsure of the ionization mode or method please choose "whatever works" in the submission box. Then we will choose what we think will work best. If you are unsure and you choose "positive and negative" we will run your sample in both modes, regardless of whether the sample actually needs and works in both modes, and you will be charged for two analyses.

• Any additional information you can provide about the reaction and starting materials is helpful.

Please acknowledge The University of Texas at Austin's Mass Spectrometry Facility in any future publications that incorporate results obtained by our facility. If the data or analysis was a significant part of the paper, then adding the MSF staff member who obtained your results as a co-author would be appropriate.

Please also send a copy of the publication or the publication information (citation, DOI, or conference name and paper/poster title) to massspec@cm.utexas.edu.

We're always interested in seeing how our work is furthering your research!