How do I collect samples for testing?
Place a 1/2-1 inch cut of a healthy leaf tip (dry, free of dirt, before any sprays) into the testing envelope. Please do not include more than the requested amount of the sample. If a whole leaf or multiple leaves are sent, they may not dry in time, thus causing a delay with the results.

How early can I submit my samples for testing?
We accept samples as early as 7-10 days of growth (cotyledons). We highly recommend submitting samples as early as possible so that you can invest resources only toward flowering plants.

What if my samples have been sprayed?
Regardless of the source, chemical contamination on the leaves may negatively affect the test. To remedy this, we will typically run an alternative method that offers the same accuracy results, but may take a few extra days to process. Please try to collect leaf tip samples from new growth areas that have not been sprayed or clean the samples with distilled/pure water. Please clearly indicate on the samples or with a note in the package that the samples have been sprayed. To avoid these issues, we highly recommend submitting samples before they are sprayed.

What are smash cards?
Smash cards are an optional step in the sample collection process. Most customers submit a 1/2-1 inch cut of a healthy leaf tip or similar plant tissue. Alternatively, special paper known as "smash cards" may be used instead of testing the leaf sample directly. To use the smash cards, a piece of plant material is smashed into the paper, transferring the DNA. Excess leaf or plant materials is then scraped off and discarded. This allows for only the DNA to be submitted to the lab. The smash cards are useful for situations in which you cannot or do not want to submit plant materials (ie. International Orders). Smash cards require more work to process in the lab, therefore we ask if they are necessary.

*Tips for successful smash card collection: Be sure the leaf isn’t too dry. If you have watered the plant recently, the leaf should produce an appropriate amount of juice. Try rolling the leaf into a ball before smashing against the card. If you have smashed the card correctly, juice from the leaf will have sunk through the card and be visible on the back. Make sure to clean all your materials and use the plastic cover slip over the leaf to prevent contamination.

How do I seal the envelopes?
Please do not use water, glue, tape or any other materials to seal the envelopes. The green dot sticker should be sufficient.

Can I place the samples in extra wrapping/plastic bags?
Samples should not be wrapped in plastic or any extra wrappings. The envelopes are designed to dry the sample, preventing rot and protecting the DNA for analysis.

Do I need to submit all the samples at once?
Let's say you order 10 test kits, but only want to send 5 in now and save the 5 for later. Do we allow that? YES! Samples do not need to be returned all at once. You may return samples and receive results in any increment you like.

Do samples expire?
No. We accept all unused samples. However, if they are marked VOID or UNPAID, you are still welcome to submit those samples, we will just send you an invoice prior to emailing results.

How will I get my results?
Results will be emailed 1-2 business days after the samples are received by the lab. Please be on the lookout for an arrival confirmation email, which will detail when results are expected to be delivered.

What does UNDER ANALYSIS mean?
Samples marked UNDER ANALYSIS means that we will need another 1-2 business days to retest the sample. A follow up email will be sent with the UNDER ANALYSIS results. There are a number of things that could affect the PCR reaction. Most common are residual foliar spray or dirt on the surface of the leaf sample. It can also be caused by improper reaction setup. Less common would be a genetic anomaly where the PCR primers cannot find the target sequence of DNA.

Will my results indicate whether my plants are hermaphrodites?
Unfortunately the test does not directly tell you if your samples are hermaphrodites/intersex. We have found that both male and female plants can display hermie issues later during the growth cycle. That being said, knowing what to expect from your plants (e.g. 10 males, 10 females) will help you notice if things are looking off sooner than later. We ask that you keep your plant tags and sample numbers and monitor your plants for the entire growth cycle.