Biological Mass Spectrometry Core Facility

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find quick answers to common questions about our services and workflows below. Not finding what you are looking for? Please contact one of our team members at bms@dal.ca for additional information. We accept inquiries in both English and French.

Do you provide services in other languages? / Offrez-vous vos services dans une autre langue?

  • Yes, we do! While our website is in English, we also offer requests and support in French. Feel free to use your preferred language when contacting us at bms@dal.ca!
  • Oui ! Bien que notre site web soit en anglais, nous offrons également nos services et notre expertise en français. Utilisez simplement la langue de votre choix lorsque vous intéragissez avec nous à l'adresse bms@dal.ca!

Do you perform service XYZ?

  • We are always working on new projects and optimizing workflows, so our list of services offered is always changing. Not finding what you are looking for in our current list? We also welcome custom inquiries. Please, reach out to us at bms@dal.ca to see what we can do for you!

How much does service XYZ cost?

  • Every project is different! We have carefully curated cost-models that are always changing based on the fluctuating costs of reagents and the designs of different types of experiments. Please reach out to us at bms@dal.ca for accurate costing of your project if you are just curious or if you need the information for a grant proposal. 

How do I submit my samples to the BMS Core?

Where should I ship my samples?

  • Samples should be shipped directly to our labs at the Life Science Research Institute. Please keep in mind that shipping procedures may vary depending on your sample requirements. Reach out to us at bms@dal.ca and we will provide you with shipping instructions that suit your situation.

I’m having trouble using Infinity X — where can I get help?

  • Our BMS User Guide [7.4 MB] provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to make the most of Infinity X, as well as answers to the most common issues.
  • If you are still having trouble using Infinity X, please contact a member of our team at bms@dal.ca. Make sure to write “Issue with Infinity” in your email subject line for a quicker response.

I was asked about my BMS project ID number. Where can I find it?

  • One of our team members should have sent you an email with your ID number when you defined your experiment requirement on your first sample submission. Alternatively, you can also see your project ID number in your Infinity account: simply access your project page following the steps provided on pages 34 to 36 of the BMS user guide [7.4 MB].

How should I process my samples?

  • We are happy to walk you through the types of protocols you should use to process your samples. Our protocols are freely available online on both the BMS Core's Resources page and GitHub page. Please, visit regularly either one of these pages to optain of our latest versions of your validated, step-by-step SOP's.

At what stage should I drop off my samples?

  • It is up to you. We offer partial (data acquisition and analysis only) and full (from sample processing to final results) services. Therefore, you can drop your samples off at any stage during the sample preparation process and we will accomodate. 

How long will my analysis take?

  • It depends! Every experiment is different. We will do our best to give you an estimate at the time of sample submission, but unforeseen circumstances may change this. At any given time, we can check the current status of your request using your Infinity X account (see pages 44 to 46 of our BMS user guide [7.4 MB] for step-by-step instructions).

Can I process and analyze my samples myself?

  • Absolutely! We are happy to provide any level of training you are interested in. Please reach out to bms@dal.ca to discuss and coordinate.

Do you offer bioinformatic and data analysis services?

  • We do! Please reach out to us at bms@dal.ca to discuss your potential options regarding general data analysis and extended reporting/analysis options. We also offer a range of data analysis scripts for various standard analysis pipelines on the BMS Core's GitHub page.