Prior to shipping samples, partners should follow the checklists detailed on the parasite and mosquito-specific resources pages. In general, the following five steps should always be taken:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit samples before the paperwork?
No. We cannot accept samples until this checklist is complete. Samples received without relevant approvals in place may be returned. If you have samples ready to send and have completed the checklist, please contact samples@malariagen.net to arrange shipping.

I don’t have a MalariaGEN study ID. What should I do?
Study IDs are allocated to approved partner studies. If you do not have a MalariaGEN study ID you may need to apply for a partner study if you have not already done so. If you are not sure, please contact support@malariagen.net.

I haven’t submitted samples in a while. Has the process changed?
We regularly update our protocols. If you have a partner study but it has been over 12 months since you last submitted samples, please contact <a “href=”mailto:samples@malariagen.net”>samples@malariagen.net to check if anything has changed.

I need sample kits. What do I do?
To request either DBS collection kits or mosquito shipping kits, please contact samples@malariagen.net letting us know your study ID, which kits you need, and how many samples you need kits for.

What sample types do you accept?
We can accept DNA samples (Plasmodium and Anopheles), dried blood spot filter paper samples (Plasmodium), or whole mosquitoes preserved in ethanol (Anopheles). Please see parasite partner study resources and mosquito partner study resources for protocols and minimum quantities.

I don’t use DBS. How can I submit my Plasmodium samples?
Any non-DBS samples should be submitted as extracted DNA in 96 well plates, we request that you use clear 96-well skirted SuperPlate PCR plates from Abgene (Catalog number AB2800). We cannot accept any alternatives (Eppendorf tubes, cryovials, deep well plates, etc). If you have any difficulty sourcing, or any questions about the 96 well plates we require, please email samples@malariagen.net.

What happens to the data?
Raw data, generated by either the whole genome or amplicon sequencing, is submitted to the European Nucleotide Archive as soon as it is generated, in line with Wellcome Sanger Institute policy.

After being processed through MalariaGEN data pipelines, data will be returned to partners in a more usable format prior to any open release. More information is provided in parasite partner study resources and mosquito partner study resources.