Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 11:54:53 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <199701091654.LAA12596@post.aecom.yu.edu>
From: sumner@chemvx.tamu.edu (Lloyd W. Sumner)
Subject: Re: Charges for MALDI
To: Recipients of ABRF List <abrf@aecom.yu.edu>
Dr. Chin,
UMC Protein Core
wrote:
>> Subject: Charges for MALDI
>>
>> The demand for MS is increasing here and I personal would like to
>> get MS for protein analysis running.
>>
>> What are the typical charges that a univ. core lab for MS on a
>> MALDI?
>> (Don't say ask your clients because the answer will be free.)
>>
>> If the instrument doesn't have to be amortized will that change you
>> answer? As a service, do you wait until an entire plate is full
>> before running the analyis?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> David Chin
>> UMC Protein Core
>>
We at the Laboratory for Biological Mass Spectrometry at Texas A&M
University perform MALDI analysis both on a routine and collaborative basis.
Following is a short descritption of our fees.
3.2 Finance of Operation and Maintenance Costs
The Applied MS lab of the LBMS has been able to cover its expenditures
for consumables, spares, and repair costs for the past several fiscal years
through user's fees which in 1996 consisted of
approximately $24K. A commitment for additional support funds has been made
through the LBMS if expenditures should exceed income from user's fees. The
user's fees were set by the TAMU Fiscal
Office for two customer categories at the following rates: (1) TAMU and
other nonprofit educational organizations at $115.00/hr and (2) industrial
clients at $200.00/hr. These fee structures only charge industrial clients
for instrument depreciation over a 5 year period. This is the basis for
different rates. Since the Department of Chemistry provides salary support
for the staffing of the LBMS, the fees are subsidized proportionally by the
Dept. of Chemistry to yield the following "real dollar" rates.
Routine MS Services Routine EI, (+/-), CI/,(+/-)FAB, nominal and accurate
mass measurement
Department of Chemistry User's $15.00/hr
Other TAMU-ON Campus User's $45.00/hr
Other Texas State Agencies $90.00/hr
Industrial User's $200.00/hr
Group II - Advance Technologies Fees ESI, MALDI, tandem, LC/MS
Department of Chemistry User's $25.00/hr
Other TAMU-ON Campus User's $55.00/hr
Other Texas State Agencies $100.00/hr
Industrial User's $200.00/hr
Fees are based on an hourly rate so that the focus of the mass analysis is
quality. Hourly rates also reflect the quality of the submitted sample (eg.
the cleaner/purer samples are, the more successful and less time required).
Typically nominal EI, CI, FAB, ESI, and MALDI analyses are billed at 0.5hrs
($7.50/Chem. Dept.) whereas accurate mass EI and FAB are billed at 1.0 hr
($15/Chem Dept.) and 1.5 hrs ($22.50/Chem. Dept.) respectively. Similarly
MALDI and ESI nominal mass measurements are generally billed at 0.5hrs
($12.50/Chem. Dept). These charges are very competitive with similar
university facilities. Fees are waived for projects that result in other
tangible benefits such as student support or publications. Although the
Applied MS users are assessed a fee to recover consumables, this is not a
viable pathway for capital equipment purchases or major upgrades which
necessitates this submission.
Alternatively, we have a group of 5 PIs that pooled monies to build a
MALDI/TOF instrument which they share and the LBMS maintains. Students from
the MALDI consortium group are allowed to utilize this instrument on a walk
up basis after a short training course and at no cost except their own
consumables.
If you should desire more information, you can request a copy of our
descriptive 16 page user guide by email or phone.
Sincerely,
Lloyd W. Sumner, Ph.D.
Associate Director,
The Laboratory for Biological Mass Spectrometry
Department of Chemistry
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3255
Voice #(409)845-8404
Facsimile#(409)845-4719
Email Sumner@chemvx.tamu.edu