How to Order an Oligo Pool
Use this final support page after the main oligo pool workflow, design checklist, QC review, and vendor comparison are settled. It is for when your sequences are ready and you need to submit an order without format or capacity mistakes. It covers accepted file formats, ID rules, quote-confirmed capacity checks, modification notes, and the final checklist before you place an oligo pool order.
Before You Submit the File
This page handles the submission step. If the design, QC expectations, or vendor shortlist are still open, start with the main oligo pool workflow and the decision pages below before using the file-format checklist.
Start With the Oligo Pool Workflow
Confirm the concept, design path, synthesis route, and application fit.
Read QC Metrics First
Set expectations for uniformity, dropout, error rate, Gini, and NGS verification.
Compare Pool Vendors
Short-list vendors by public specs, QC language, turnaround, and service boundaries.
Automated oligo pool synthesis array preparing large-scale orders.
File Formats to Prepare
| Format | Extension | Use When | Submission Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| FASTA | .fasta, .fa | Sequence IDs and raw sequences are enough for the first handoff | Confirm whether the portal accepts FASTA directly or requires a template upload. |
| CSV | .csv | The quote or portal asks for name/sequence columns | Confirm the exact column names, delimiter, encoding, and header requirement. |
| TSV | .tsv | A tab-separated procurement or LIMS handoff is easier to review | Confirm whether the vendor portal accepts TSV or needs CSV conversion. |
| Excel | .xlsx | The vendor provides a spreadsheet template or quote worksheet | Confirm workbook tabs, protected columns, and required metadata fields. |
| Plain Text | .txt | Only for internal scratch review before final formatting | Add unique IDs and convert to a structured format before submission. |
Use our Format Adapter to convert between formats and validate before submission.
Sequence ID Naming Rules
✅ Good IDs
- BRCA1_sgRNA_01
- TP53_exon5_probe_001
- GFP_tile_15_of_30
- NTC_control_0001
❌ Bad IDs
- seq 1 (spaces)
- BRCA1/sgRNA#1 (special chars)
- 1_oligo (starts with number)
- duplicate_name (non-unique)
Quote Fields to Confirm Before Submission
| Order Field | Confirm in Quote or Portal | Why It Blocks Submission |
|---|---|---|
| Pool-size tier | Minimum, maximum, sub-pools, and any per-pool sequence cap | A file can be rejected if the sequence count lands outside the selected tier. |
| Full sequence length | Length after adapters, barcodes, restriction handles, UMIs, and constant regions | The design may pass guide-level review but fail at the full insert length. |
| Delivery format | Tube, plate, dry material, normalized pool, or separate sub-pools | Downstream amplification and cloning depend on how material is delivered. |
| Material amount | Guaranteed amount per pool, per sub-pool, or per oligo when specified | The amount determines whether you need amplification before use. |
| Turnaround definition | Whether lead time means production start, shipment, delivery, or QC report availability | Scheduling slips when quote terms use different timing definitions. |
| QC scope | Included, optional, or excluded QC; report format; raw per-sequence data availability | Aggregate QC is not enough for representation-sensitive applications. |
| Modifications | Supported modifications, placement, scale limits, and surcharge terms | Unsupported modifications can force redesign after submission. |
Use this table as a submission screen, then confirm the current quote, QC package, and service terms directly with the vendor. For documented public vendor specs, open the 2026 vendor specs snapshot. For decision support, see the oligo pool vendor comparison.
Submission Checklist Before You Order
- □All sequences pass Batch QC (no extreme GC, homopolymers, strong hairpins)
- □Sequence IDs are unique, alphanumeric + underscores only
- □File format matches vendor requirements (FASTA recommended)
- □Pool size confirmed against the selected quote tier
- □All full-length oligos confirmed against current product-tier limits
- □Controls included (1K non-targeting for CRISPR, WT for mutagenesis)
- □Modifications specified (biotin for capture, none for standard)
- □Budget approved (estimate cost before requesting quotes)
- □NGS QC requested or explicitly declined; confirm whether it is included, excluded, or quoted as an add-on
Frequently Asked Questions
What file format do I need for an oligo pool order?▾
What is the minimum order size for an oligo pool?▾
How much DNA do I receive from an oligo pool order?▾
Can I get sub-pools or multiple pools in one order?▾
Next Pages to Open
Design an Oligo Pool Before Ordering
Use the five-step checklist before you send sequences out.
Review Oligo Pool Design Rules
Check sequence constraints before your file is rejected or underperforms.
Compare Oligo Pool Vendors
Match submission requirements, QC scope, and turnaround across vendors.
Estimate Oligo Pool Cost
Estimate pricing before you finalize a vendor choice.
Convert Vendor File Formats
Convert between FASTA, CSV, and vendor-ready formats.
Run Batch QC Before Submission
Screen sequences before they reach a vendor quote or order form.