A usable custom oligo request gives a synthesis provider enough information to confirm the design, quote the correct deliverable, and identify questions before production begins. Researchers ordering a few primers or probes should first settle the sequence record, modification positions, purification choice, final amount, and delivery format. This guide turns those decisions into a request that can be reviewed and repeated without guessing what an earlier order meant.
Provide each oligonucleotide as a separate, named entry with its 5′ to 3′ sequence and intended use. Confirm the base notation, orientation, and any nonstandard bases with the people who approved the assay design. If a project has several iterations, include a version or revision date so an older primer name is not mistaken for the latest sequence.
A sequence name alone is insufficient when colleagues use different local names for the same target. Include a stable identifier, the full approved sequence, and design notes that affect synthesis. The customer remains responsible for confirming that the submitted design is suitable for the intended experiment; the synthesis request should make that design unambiguous to the supplier.
A fluorescent label, quencher, phosphate group, spacer, or modified base can change the specification and quotation. State the chemical group using the supplier’s accepted notation, its exact 5′, 3′, or internal position, and the oligo to which it belongs. For a dual-labeled probe, identify both labels and their positions rather than assuming the supplier will infer the pairing from the application.
Before ordering, confirm that the selected modification is offered for the sequence and format you need. If a design depends on a particular dye or linker, ask the supplier to review availability and compatibility before treating the specification as final. Tsingke lists a range of modification options, but the precise combination should be confirmed for the individual request.
Purification is a purchasing decision tied to the experimental use, sequence length, and modification complexity. A routine PCR primer and a labeled probe can need different purification approaches. State the method you require, or describe the application and ask the supplier which options are available; do not assume that the highest listed option is necessary for every oligo.
For sensitive detection workflows, early-stage drug research, or complex molecular assays, request the purification and quality evidence that the particular experiment calls for.
The quotation should say which purification and analytical checks are included, which are optional, and what record will accompany delivery. Tsingke lists optional MALDI-TOF, PAGE, and HPLC QC on its oligo synthesis overview. Whether a particular method or report applies to your oligo must be confirmed in the quotation.
Ask how oligo identity and quality are verified for the selected service, including the methods used, the material tested, and the information shown in the report. A method can provide evidence about specified attributes without establishing that every molecule in the delivered material has the intended full-length sequence.
Synthesis scale describes the nominal amount targeted during synthesis; the amount actually delivered after processing can differ. Specify the final quantity your experiment requires and the unit in which you want it quoted. Also state how many aliquots, reactions, or repeat experiments the material should cover. If a concentration is required, request the concentration together with the final volume and acceptable diluent rather than giving only a target mass or molar amount.
A separate request should identify whether the material is needed as a dry product or in solution, in individual tubes or a plate. If the supplier offers several scale choices, compare them against the quoted final delivered amount and the intended workflow, not the synthesis-scale label alone.
The receiving team should be able to match each container to the approved sequence record. Ask how each tube or well will be labeled and whether the shipment includes a lot or order identifier, an amount or concentration record, available QC documentation, and handling instructions. State whether you need separate aliquots, a plate map, or a specific reconstitution format before a quote is finalized.
For many oligos in one order, attach a structured spreadsheet with one row per sequence and consistent columns. Review the resulting quote against that spreadsheet; a correct price for the wrong purification or delivery format does not solve the laboratory’s request.
| Check before comparing prices | Information to confirm |
|---|---|
| Oligo identity | Sequence identifier, version, length, and approved notation |
| Chemical specification | Exact modification type and position; purification method |
| Material received | Final delivered amount, format, aliquots, and packaging |
| Quality evidence | Included or optional tests and the corresponding report |
| Order terms | Turnaround time, shipping conditions, and any follow-up needed |
Send the same completed specification to each supplier if you are comparing offers. Resolve any substitutions or uncertain modification names in writing. The useful comparison is the total deliverable and the information supplied with it, rather than a price for an unspecified “standard oligo.”
Before submitting, have the design owner review the sequence and modifications and the receiving laboratory review amount and format. Where a previous order is being reused, attach its approved specification and identify any change; an old order number alone may not show whether the sequence, label, or purification was revised. Once the supplier confirms the scope, keep the approved request, quote, and delivery record together.
A practical request can begin with: “Please quote the attached oligos by sequence ID and version. Confirm modification notation and availability, purification, final delivered amount, included QC documentation, delivery format, and lead time. Flag any requirement that needs clarification before synthesis.” This gives the supplier a concrete basis for a useful response.
At minimum, provide a named 5′ to 3′ sequence, its intended application, any modification and position, purification requirement, final amount, and delivery format. Add version details and QC or documentation requirements when relevant.
No. Synthesis scale refers to the production setting or nominal input. Ask for the final amount expected after processing in a stated unit, and confirm how that amount will be reported on delivery.
Choose according to the oligo design and the experiment. Share the use case and acceptance requirements with the supplier, then compare the available methods and the QC evidence included in the quote.
Ask which analytical method applies to the selected product, what it assesses, and what documentation is provided. The available options and interpretation depend on the oligo and the service ordered.
Send the approved sequence ID and version together with the previously agreed modifications, purification, amount, and packaging. State any differences explicitly so the supplier can quote the correct new order.
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