Addgene can provide limited troubleshooting advice via our Scientific Support staff at help@addgene.org. Note that Addgene does not have an animal facility, and we have not functionally tested the viral vector preparations that we distribute (this is especially true of our AAV vectors, whose typical use is often in vivo). Our troubleshooting advice therefore relies heavily on the data and description that you provide, and will slightly augment the insights that can already be gathered from the primary literature — and from other content available from Addgene.
You should ideally consult this other content first. Please see the list of our most relevant resources, below:
- Addgene DataHub (AAV expression data and Antibodies data from users)
- Viral Vectors eBook
- Viral Vectors "Guide" Pages (AAV, LV, Adenovirus, Retrovirus, and more; however, Addgene produces only AAV and LV vectors)
We may not be able to support troubleshooting cases that involve vectors that are made from Addgene plasmids, but that are not produced by Addgene (e.g. those vector preparations produced in your lab, or by a third party). The DataHub above is exclusively for AAV vectors produced/distributed by Addgene, for example. There are some resources below that may help with the production and validation of vectors done in your own lab:
After consulting with these resources, and the primary literature - especially the article associated with the vector that you are using, if you would like support, please contact us with the following information:
- A description of the failure, especially including the lot number of the vector used
- Images/measurements of the failure, and of positive and negative controls that validate the procedure used to generate the (blank/aberrant) aforementioned image of the failure
- A description of any previous success(es) - especially with a related Addgene vector or with another, previous lot of the same vector
Note that Addgene will not be able to provide compensation for experiments that are not working - unless there is direct evidence that the vector is defective and that the defect did not arise after leaving our facility. This is because Addgene relies on our quality control processes as evidence that no defect was present before leaving our facility. For more information on our quality control process, please see our Viral Production page.