Table of Contents
Have Questions? Contact us at Sukhi@csplabs.com
Sample Submission Forms & Guidelines
The Account Set Up Form helps us maintain accurate client information, including company details, contact preferences, and billing or shipping addresses. It also allows you to select how you’d like to receive invoices and test results, and to identify account administrators for clear communication.
Our Seed Health Testing submission forms and guidelines ensure samples are received in proper condition for accurate testing. Please review and complete the required forms before sending your samples, and follow all packaging and labeling instructions to prevent delays. Providing complete information helps us process and test your samples efficiently.
How many seeds should I send?
This following table can serve as a guide to estimate the number of seeds to be shipped. This estimate is based on average seed size. If you have a small-seeded or big-seeded variety, you will need to adjust accordingly.
| Crop | 1,000 seeds in grams | 10,000 seeds in grams | 30,000 seeds in grams |
| Arugula | 0.5 | 5 | 15 |
| Beets/Swiss Chard | 23 | 230 | 690 |
| Brassica | 3 | 30 | 90 |
| Coriander | 13 | 130 | 390 |
| Lettuce | 1 | 10 | 30 |
| Pepper | 6 | 60 | 180 |
| Tomato | 3 | 30 | 90 |
| Melon/Cantaloupe | 45 | 450 | 1350 |
| Watermelon – Allsweet type | 38 | 380 | 1140 |
| Watermelon – Charleston Gray type | 92 | 920 | 2760 |
| Watermelon – Medium, Triploid type | 50 | 500 | 1500 |
| Rice | 28 | 280 | 840 |
| Spinach | 10 | 100 | 300 |
General Seed Sample Collection Guidelines
- Draw a representative sample (for large lots multiple samples may be tested).
- Untreated seeds are preferable
- The quantity of seeds to send will vary based on the tests requested. It’s also possible for the same seeds to be used for multiple tests – contact us for details. For bacterial fruit blotch grow out testing, please send at least 10% more than the test quantity to account for low germination.
- Ensure seeds are packed securely, with a readable label that’s also secured and double checked for correctness.
- Prepare a packing slip (you can fill out our sample submission form to serve as a packing slip, please be sure to fill out the form completely).
- Ship by express mail.
- International customers should include a phytosanitary certificate. Alternatively, you can use our Red/White Labels to ship to USDA and USDA will forward the samples to us. Ask us for Red/White labels.
Our Plant Health Testing submission form and guidelines outline the steps for properly preparing and sending plant samples. Please review the instructions carefully to ensure samples arrive in good condition for accurate diagnostics. Complete and detailed submission information helps us process your samples quickly and efficiently.
General Plant Sample Collection and Mailing Guidelines
Herbaceous & Small Woody Plants Guidelines
Grapevine Sample Collection Guidelines
- Basal Cane Sample Collection for Virus Testing
- Shoot Tip Sample Collection for Virus Testing
- Leaf Sample Collection for Virus Testing
- Grapevine Trunk Diseases (GTDs)
- Grapevine Soil and Nematodes Testing Samples [Click Here]
Strawberry Sample Collection Guidelines
- Sampling for Fungal Soilborne and Foliar Pathogens
- Whole Plant Sample Collection: Single-Plant Sampling
- Whole Plant Sample Collection: Composite Sample
- Sampling for Virus, Viroid, Phytoplasma, Xanthomonas fragariae
- Single-Plant Sampling
- Composite Sampling
Soil, Water, Compost and Potting Mix Sample Collection Guidelines
- Soil Sampling Sampling Instructions
- Soil-Borne Pathogen Analysis
- Nematode Analysis
- Water Sampling Sampling Instructions
- Pathogen Analysis
- Potting Mix and Compost Sampling Instructions
- Pathogen Analysis
Walnut Bud Sample Collection Guidelines
- Walnut Blight
- Botryosphaeria
- Phomopsis
Our Genotyping submission form and guidelines provide the information needed to prepare and send samples for DNA-based analysis. Please review and complete all required forms before shipping, and follow the labeling and packaging instructions to ensure accurate and efficient processing.
Variety Identification Tests from Seeds
For variety identification testing, we are assuming that the hybrid/variety sample being tested is pure and there is no variability from seed to seed. We will compare the DNA fingerprint of the sample with your varieties in our database. If you are submitting for the first time, we will need a reference that we can compare with.
- Ship 20 seeds from a lot. Coin envelopes may be used.
- Fill out the Sample Submission Form and use it as a packing slip.
- Ship by express mail.
- International customers will need a 588 permit. Please contact us to obtain the permit and instructions. You will need a commercial invoice, a sample submission form, and the permit accompanying the package.
- Your package will be delivered to a USDA station for inspection, and USDA will forward it to CSP Labs.
Hybrid Purity Tests from Seeds
A minimum of 92-96 seeds is a suggested sample size. For hybrids that are submitted for the first time, we will need a sample of both a male and a female inbred of that hybrid. You may also provide crushed seeds or leaf tissue of the inbreds.
- Ship 200 seeds from a lot.
- Fill out the Sample Submission Form and use it as a packing slip.
- Ship by express mail.
- International customers will need a 588 permit. Please contact us to obtain the permit and instructions. You will need a commercial invoice, a sample submission form, and the permit accompanying the package.
- Your package will be delivered to a USDA station for inspection, and USDA will forward it to CSP Labs.
Variety Identification Tests from Plants
- Collect a leaf with a petiole. If leaf is not available, collect stem or root. Only a small sample is needed. Place sample in a zip lock bag. Use cooler if collecting several samples to avoid heat exposure.
- If we do not have your varieties already in the database, include a sample of each reference variety that you wish to compare your sample with.
- Fill out the Sample Submission Form and use it as a packing slip.
- Ship by express mail. Samples collected on Friday can be stored in a refrigerator and shipped on Monday.
- International customers will need 588 permit from us. Please contact us to obtain the permit and instructions. You will need a commercial invoice, sample submission form and the permit accompanying the package.
- Your package will be delivered to a USDA station for inspection and USDA will forward to CSP Labs.
The CSP Labs Asia Sample Submission Form provides the information needed to process samples efficiently at our Khon Kaen, Thailand facility. Please complete the form in full and follow the listed packaging and shipping instructions to ensure proper handling and timely testing.
