Frequently asked questions

How do I know when my results are ready?

As soon as a run is completed and the pipeline analysis has finished, an email will be sent to you automatically to give you instructions on how to access your data. This is done via direct download from the University of Exeter cloud storage.

Are my results private?

Yes. You will be sent a secure download link.

How large will my results be?

This depends on how much sequencing you have requested. For an SP flowcell with 50 PE sequencing you can expect up to 60-80 Gb of data to be generated depending on the application, for the largest S4 flowcell 3000 Gb data may be generated. Please make sure you have space to store it and that you allow at least 12 hours for it to download depending on your connection.

How long will my results be available?

Your results will be kept online for at least 3 months and archived for at least 3 months. Nonetheless, please ensure you backup your data.

What format will my results be in?

This in large part depends on the type of experiment that is being run. However for any experiment, you will always receive the raw data prior to alignment (e.g. For Illumina sequencing, the FASTQ file containing the fragments which were sequenced). This is so that you can do your own analysis using alternative programs if necessary. 

How long does the sample stay in the sequencer?

A  Novaseq and MiSeq run takes roughly 2-4 days to run; the sequencer can deliver data in as little as 3-5 days. 

How involved will I be in the library preparation?

We can prepare your libraries for the majority of sequencing projects. We will need you to provide high quality nucleic acid at the right concentration and with suitable QC information. 

We are able to provide training for UoE PhD students in specific library preparations if requested.   

For bespoke libraries such as HiC and ChIPseq where crosslinking or immunoprecipitation is required we can advise you, however you will need to prepare your own libraries, or pre-prepare the DNA so we will need to work very closely together. Please contact us to  discover more.