Guidelines for snap freezing starting materials

Plant Tissue

1. Collect the recommended amount of desired tissue.
2. Wrap the tissue with aluminum foil. It is helpful to separate the tissue into 2 or 3 smaller packages.
3. Label the package(s) with the following information:
   • Organism name
   • Date collected
   • Amplicon Express quote number
4. Fill a mortar or similar receptacle with liquid nitrogen. Allow it to cool the vessel.
5. Once the mortar is adequately chilled, place the foil package(s) into the liquid nitrogen.
6. Allow the contents of the package(s) to freeze. This may take a few minutes. Add more liquid nitrogen as needed.
7. Once the material is frozen, place the package(s) in a plastic bag and store at -80C until shipment.

Animal tissue, cell lines, insect larvae

1. Collect the recommended amount of desired tissue.
2. Place the tissue into a 50ml plastic screw-cap centrifuge tube.
3. Label the tube with the following information:
   • Organism name
   • Date collected
   • Amplicon Express quote number
4. Fill a mortar or similar receptacle with liquid nitrogen. Allow it to cool the vessel.
5. Once the mortar is adequately chilled, place the centrifuge tube into the liquid nitrogen.
6. Allow the contents of the tube to freeze. This may take a few minutes. Add more liquid nitrogen as needed.
7. Once the material is frozen, place the tube in a plastic bag and store at -80C until shipment.