IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS

(Must read and accept prior to use of core)

Single-cell RNA-sequencing is a cutting-edge technology that offers exciting new research opportunities. Due to the high-risk nature of the technology, we cannot guarantee successful outcome with each experiment.

Sample Preparation & Quality Disclaimer

We strongly encourage each user to optimize cell isolation and preparation. This entails ensuring an adequate number of cells for analysis, achieving a cell viability rate exceeding 80%, and effectively eliminating large cellular debris from the sample.

As a core facility, we will be happy to provide relevant information on proper isolation and enrichment techniques leading up to the use of the services offered to give the best chance at a desired outcome. We are happy to offer a one-time free QC check to determine sample quality and optimization efficiency ahead of the actual experiment date.

Sample preparation and quality is of the utmost importance because unsuccessful capture is often the result of, or proportional to, the quality of the cells at input. In other cases, particular cell types fail to capture in 10X nanodroplets due to characteristics of the cell type.

If our technicians determine a poor sample quality during their own counting and QC protocols, we will notify the investigator prior to proceeding with the 10X run and make aware the heightened risk of failure due to the sample. At this point the investigator will have the choice to proceed with risk or cancel the run.

At the end of the library construction process, if the DNA traces are substandard, the users and their PI’s will be notified. It will
be up to the users’ discretion to proceed with sequencing. If it is determined that the suboptimal results were not due to a
workflow error made by our technicians and senior staff, users are liable for all labor and reagent costs.

In the event of CANCELLATION, the investigator will be billed for reagents previously provided (eg. CITEseq/Cell Hashing).

In the event of PROCEEDING WITH RISK using a suboptimal sample, and a failure occurs, the investigator will be billed for reagents and labor costs associated with the steps up to the point of failure, but not for any subsequent steps following, such as sequencing or analysis.

In the event of PROCEEDING WITH RISK after the library construction step, the investigator will be liable for sequencing costs.

Cell Count Submission Disclaimer

We aim to load 20,000 cells per run based on 10X Genomics protocol recommendations.

We request an absolute minimum of 60,000 live cells per sample to be submitted for each 10X run, to be confirmed by our manual counting immediately prior to processing (which is usually significantly lower than the cell counts suggested by sorters), in order to have left-over cells to re-load in the event of a machine failure.

There is the possibility of a small, but real, inherent risk of failure of the machine to produce the emulsion required to allow single cell sequencing (3% as described and documented by 10X Genomics), including but not limited to, wetting failures, pressure errors, and sample clogs.

By ensuring to provide 60,000 live cells and loading the recommended 20,000 cells, we would be able to immediately re-run the remaining left-over sample at no additional cost and avoid a completely failed experiment.

We fully understand that it is sometimes impractical to obtain 20,000 of certain rare cell populations, and we would still be willing to run samples with less than this number, but please be aware that we would not be able to re-do the 10X run in the event of a machine failure and the sample would be lost. To help mitigate the risk of machine failure resulting in the loss of irreplaceable sample, the user could consider splitting the sample in 2 parts and run them sequentially as two independent runs. However, this would result in either a smaller sample size or double the cost. In these scenarios, we advise the users to discuss the pros and cons of either approach with their PI prior to committing to running the experiment.

In the very small chance (3%) that a MACHINE FAILURE occurs while loading an optimal quality sample, the user will not be responsible for any charges.