Addgene is Expanding Our Viral Vector Service!

We’re very excited to announce that we are expanding our viral vector service to include a Packaged on Request option. Through this expansion, scientists will be able to request an AAV composed of an AAV plasmid in the Addgene repository and their choice of five different serotypes.

Figure 1: The process of requesting and ordering a Packaged on Request viral vector prep. 

Excited? So are we! This expansion will give researchers increased flexibility when planning their research and expanded choice when it comes to ordering high-quality materials from the Addgene repository. Read on to learn more. 

What will be available? 

Most of the 4500 AAV plasmids in the Addgene repository will be available for Packaged on Request service, but a small subset of plasmids will have technical or legal restrictions that make them ineligible for use in this service. 

At launch, we will offer five different serotypes for packaging: AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, or AAV Retrograde (AAVrg) capsids. 

Please be aware that this ordering process will look slightly different from our standard process. We’ll walk you through a brief overview in this blog post.

When will the expansion happen? 

You will be able to request Packaged on Request service starting in January 2025. 

What will the ordering process look like? 

The ordering process is split into two steps, requesting and ordering. This split allows us to provide researchers with increased choice and flexibility; while ensuring we can maintain high standards for both our depositors and requestors. 

Requesting

Plasmids available for Packaged on Request consideration will have a banner on their material page. Interested scientists can expand the banner to select their serotype of choice, pick what size prep they’d like, and submit the request. Request details can be accessed within your Addgene account.

Preps will be available for request in three different quantities: 10x 100 µL (1 mL), 25x 100 µL (2.5 mL), or 50x 100 µL (5 mL). 

Once submitted, the request will be reviewed by Addgene for legal approvals and technical compatibility with our production process. This process will take 1–2 days, and we anticipate approving the vast majority of requests. 

If the vector is unable to be produced, the request will be denied, and you will be notified via email. There is no charge for the request process. 

Ordering

If your request is approved, you will receive an email notification that your request is ready to order. An “Add to Cart” button will appear with the request in your Addgene account. 

Orders do not need to be placed immediately upon request approval. Once approved, the request will remain in your account until you have placed your order. You will only be charged once you have added the prep to your cart and checked out. 

Prices for Packaged on Request viral preps will be available at launch. 

What happens after I order? 

Once an order is placed, the Addgene viral vectors team gets to work! They will produce your Packaged on Request prep and run the same quality control assays we run with all of our in-stock viral preps: ddPCR, purity testing, sterility testing, and viral genomic sequencing to confirm the identity of the packaged DNA and serotype. Please note that Addgene cannot perform functional or in vivo testing. We recommend you check the original paper of your AAV plasmid of choice for more information on its performance.  

Titers

We expect titers for plasmids packaged in AAV1, AAV5, AAV8, and AAV Retrograde to be 1x10¹³ and titers for AAV2 to be 7x10¹², the same titers found in our in-stock preps. If a request has technical considerations that may affect expected titers, a customer support specialist will reach out to you during the request stage, before you order. 

Timeline

Once your order is placed, we estimate it will take 6-8 weeks for the service to be fulfilled and QC assays to be completed and reviewed. The timeline therefore will be as follows: 

Request review: 1–2 days

Prep and QC completed: 6–8 weeks

Average shipping time: 1–2 days (USA); 3–4 days (international; varies widely by country and/or distributor.) 

You should plan to receive your Packaged on Request prep 6–9 weeks after placing your order. 

Can I order Packaged on Request preps through a distributor? 

Yes! Packaged on Request service will be available through our distributor partners in China, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and India. Once the service is launched, you’ll be able to work with the distributor to place a request and order if approved. 

I want to stay updated! 

We want to keep you updated! You can sign up for email updates if you’d only like communications on Packaged on Request; subscribe to the Addgene newsletter for updates on all things Addgene; or subscribe to the Addgene blog for updates and educational resources. 

We hope you’re as excited about this expansion as we are! Happy packaging!