- Contact the Lab: Please call or e-mail us, so we can
assist you to determine the type of analysis needed in your situation, and to
confirm that we can provide the requested service. Request or download a
Sample Submission Form. Our telephone
number is (530) 758-4254.
- Fill out our Sample Submission Form. No samples will be
accepted without a completed submission form. Analyses cannot begin until all
pertinent information has been received. You may download a copy of these
Instructions here.
- Package the sample(s); the securing, packaging and shipping
of samples is extremely important. Packaging for typical evidence samples are
as follows:
- Hairs mounted on microscope slides: place slides in
cardboard slide holder or equivalent to prevent breakage.
- Loose hairs: place in transparent paperfold (weighing
paper), Ziplock bag or in plastic test-tube. Note: Hairs are easiest
to work with if they can be easily seen in their container.
- Hairs on tapelifts: leave on tapelift and place in
envelope or, if removed, package as instructed for loose hairs.
- Clothing (dog bite victims): clothes should be
air-dried in cool environment. Fold loosely and place each clothing
article in brown paper bag. Label the bag with the victim's name and
describe the article of clothing.
- Packaging for typical reference items are as follows:
- Blood sample: blood should be collected with EDTA as
the anti-coagulant (lavender top Vacutainer tubes). One milliliter of
blood is sufficient. Package the tube to prevent breakage. Blood can
be sent at room temperature.
- Buccal (cheek) swabs: The lab prefers a brush-type
swab rather than a cotton-tipped swab but can use the cotton-tipped
type if necessary. We will be happy to provide our swabs on request.
Any type of swab should be thoroughly air-dried and placed in a paper
envelope for shipping.
- Hairs: make sure to pluck hairs! Grasp a small number
(3-5) of hairs at the base and pull firmly. The animal should feel you
do it! Repeat this process so that you provide 10-20 hairs. Most breeds
of dog and cats have two types of hairs. Guard hairs are coarser and
straight while fur hairs are fine and often wavy. Guard hairs are
preferred as a source of reference DNA. However, blood or cheek
swabs are always preferred to hairs.
- Please follow these steps to insure that your sample arrives in the best condition possible:
- If possible, plan to send evidence items and reference sample(s)
separately. Our policy is to request the reference sample(s) only
after completing the analysis of the evidence items. If this is not
possible, be sure to place the reference sample in a separate sealed
envelope or container. Use evidence tape if possible. Clearly label
all samples and make sure that labels correspond to information on
the submission form. Put yourself in the place of the person receiving,
opening the package and processing the contents. Include any
chain of custody forms and make
sure you indicate what forms must be signed and returned.
- Samples containing perishable items must be shipped for next day
delivery, in a cooler with freezer packs or dry ice. We do not receive
packages on the weekends or holidays; next day packages should not be
sent on Fridays or the day before holidays.
- Use only a courier service with overnight delivery and
advanced tracking capabilities (UPS, Federal Express, Airborne Express, DHL,
etc.). We are not open to accept packages on Saturdays.
Our address is QuestGen Forensics, 1046 Olive Drive Suite 1, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
QuestGen Forensics
1046 Olive Drive Suite 1
Davis, CA 95616
U.S.A.
Tel: (530) 758-4254
Fax: (530) 750-5758
E-mail: questgen@questgen.biz
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Submission
Submission
Chain of Custody