Thank you all who took the time to respond to my request for information regarding outsourcing microsatellite genotyping. There are a lot of options, and few are identical, so there is a lot to take into consideration when deciding where to go. For ease of use, I'm first listing the companies (and their websites) that were recommended. Below the list will be the actual recommendations, in case anyone is interested in what was actually said about these companies. Thank you all again. Ecogenics GmbH www.ecogenics.ch Nevada Genomics Center http://www.ag.unr.edu/genomics/default.html FADSS http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/ikbarberschool/research/analytical/fadss.html University of Arizona Fragment Analysis Facility http://uagc.arl.arizona.edu/index.php/fragment-analysis.html Alan Wilson Centre http://awcmee.massey.ac.nz/genome-genotyping-main.htm GeneWiz http://www.genewiz.com/public/micro_sat.aspx The Rockefeller University Genomic Resource Center http://www.rockefeller.edu/genomics/microsatellite.php University of Maine DNA Sequencing Facility http://www2.umaine.edu/dnaseq/ Central Michigan University Applied Technology in Conservation Genetics Lab http://atcg.bio.cmich.edu/ Georgia Genomic Facility (UGA) http://dna.uga.edu/ BYU DNA Sequencing Center http://dnasc.byu.edu/indexPolicies.asp GENterprise http://www.genterprise.de DNA Analysis Facility on Science Hill at Yale University http://dna-analysis.research.yale.edu/ Complete Answers: ----- we did this for birds at Ecogenics GmbH in Schlieren Zurich. www.ecogenics.ch. Might be inconvenient to send your DNA to Europe, and they are probably not the cheapest, but our experience is very good, and they are fast in general. May be worth to ask for a quote for your specific system, it seems you could set up some mulitplexes which could may it cheaper (they can do that too)..... Good luck, Sjouke ----- I recommend Nevada Genomics Center (http://www.ag.unr.edu/genomics/default.html). Excellent service, rapid turnover, fast and useful assistance and a reasonable price at ~ $1.90 per sample (see http://www.ag.unr.edu/genomics/price.html). My Lab has used their services for 3 years now. Though I am based in NYC, we just drop off PCRs products in the normal mail and it arrives in NV in 3 days usually. So we've had no need for expensive fedexing. Good luck !! Best regards, Else Fjerdingstad ----- You can try FADSS at UBC (http://web.ubc.ca/okanagan/ikbarberschool/research/analytical/fadss.html). I have always had good results with them. Cheers, Anders ----- You should look into the University of Arizona's Fragment Analysis Facility: http://uagc.arl.arizona.edu/index.php/fragment-analysis.html I've used them for several years and have few complaints. They charge $1 per specimen so if you multiplex they can be quite inexpensive. They have a nice user interface on their website too. ----- I doubt it will help as I'm in New Zealand, but we use the Alan Wilson Centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. I'm sure you'll be able to find some place closer though. Cheers, Roz ----- You may want to look into the New Jersey based company GeneWiz. I spent last year analyzing 50 plates of microsat genotyping. They charge about $100 a plate. We were also pool-plexing, pooling samples with up to 4 different dyes per well. At that level, samples cost about 25 cents a pop. They also have really quick turnaround and will do some free sample work to draw in your business. It's worth a shot. Good luck, John ----- I use the University of Maine sequencing facility for all of my microsatellite genotyping. I believe they use an ABI 3730 (48 capillary). I typically use two different florescent labels (6FAM and HEX with a ROX size standard) so I can load two samples in one well to cut the price in half. Their cost is $75 per 96 well plate and turn around time is fast! For example, I sent 3 plates Monday and will have data emailed to me today. Follow the link below, they have been great! http://www2.umaine.edu/dnaseq/ ----- I've used the Nevada Genomics Center at UNR for small scale microsat work. They seem to be reasonably priced and very reliable. http://www.ag.unr.edu/genomics/ Hope this helps! Cheers, Jen Moore ----- I run a conservation genetics lab at Central Michigan University that does contract work as needed. We are completely set up to do any genetic analysis you need. If you are interested in getting a quote from me please let me know. Best, Brad -- Bradley J Swanson Brad.swanson@cmich.edu ----- The Georgia Genomics Facility (GGF) of the University of Georgia offers microsatellite genotyping. Dr. Travis Glenn, the Faculty Director at GGF, has been using microsatellites genotyping for his research projects. GGF also offer other genotyping techniques. Please see our website (http://dna.uga.edu/) for more information about these techniques. Unfortunately, the microsatellites genotyping has not been added to our website yet but I would be happy to discuss your project in more details and to give you an estimate if you wish. Regards, Myriam ----- I use Nevada Genomics and they are quick, thorough and extremely helpful. My contact there is Kris Kruse, kkruse@cabnr.unr.edu . Good luck! Loren ----- I was forwarded your message to Dr. Michael Hammer concerning a facility to run microsatellite markers for you. The University of Arizona Genetics Core (UAGC) has a 3730 that we designate for solely for microsats. The cost is $1.00 per well (multiplexed or otherwise) and we generally have a turnaround time of 3-4 days. We currently have both the 4-dye ROX sizing ladder and the 5-dye LIZ sizing standard, this is important if you have already designated fluorescent dyes to your primers. Let me know if you are interested in this service, need more info, or if there is anything else I can do to help. thanks Tripp Take care, -r Ryan Sprissler Staff Scientist University of Arizona Genetics Core ARL- Biotechnology University of Arizona Lab: 520.621.9184 Office: 520.626.4882 ----- Tom Hankeln forwarded your request to our company. We can provide genotyping service starting from the development of MS markers to loading service only. Please let us know, what kind of service you are looking for. Sincerely yours, Britta Haberkamp GENterprise Gesellschaft für Genanalyse und Biotechnologie mbH Geschäftsführer: Prof. Dr. E.R. Schmidt; Prof. Dr. T. Hankeln; Dr. C. Kraemer Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 30a D-55128 Mainz (Besuchsadresse) D-55099 Mainz (Postadresse) Registergericht Mainz 90 HRB 6477 Tel:++49 (0)6131-392 3287 Fax:++49 (0)6131-392 5397 email: haberkamp@genterprise.de URL: http://www.genterprise.de ----- I have been using the DNA Analysis Facility on Science Hill at Yale University and have been very happy with their genotyping service. Their pricing is competitive and customer service has been good. You can check them out at http://dna-analysis.research.yale.edu// Regards, Ann ----- Kenneth S Macdonald III New Mexico State University Dept of Fish, Wildlife& Conservation Ecology Box 30003, MSC-4901 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 Phone: 575.646.5022 email tripp@nmsu.edu "Heck, we're invertebrates, my boy! As a whole, we're the movers and shakers on this planet! Spineless superheroes, that's what we are!" - Father Worm tripp@nmsu.edu