# Prepare Samples

### Data download options <a href="#span-classeztocsection-iddatadownloadoptionsspandata-download-optionsspan-classeztocsectionendspan" id="span-classeztocsection-iddatadownloadoptionsspandata-download-optionsspan-classeztocsectionendspan"></a>

Uploading your 16S rRNA sequencing data to our private service is a straightforward process, but there are a few steps to ensure everything goes smoothly. First, we must prepare the samples for upload. There are three sample types to choose from.&#x20;

### Sample Types

Depending on the sequencing machine and settings used, samples will produce different types of files.

#### FASTA

A commonly used text-based format for representing nucleotide or protein sequences, where each sequence is preceded by a single-line description starting with a '>' symbol.

#### AB1

A binary file format from Applied Biosystems DNA sequencers that stores DNA sequencing chromatogram data, including the raw signal intensity and quality scores for each base call.

#### Text&#x20;

In the style of FASTA format, the text of a 16S rRNA sequence can be directly uploaded.&#x20;

### How to retrieve 16S rRNA Data

Let's identify your isolate using [your amplicon data](https://kb.ezbiocloud.net/home/protocols/16s-identification/prepare-samples/private-samples) or practice with the [example files](https://kb.ezbiocloud.net/home/protocols/16s-identification/prepare-samples/public-samples), provided.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><h3>Private Samples</h3></td><td>Locally stored 16S rRNA files in FASTA, AB1, or text format</td><td></td><td><a href="prepare-samples/private-samples">private-samples</a></td></tr><tr><td><h3>Public Samples</h3></td><td>Retrieve public 16S rRNA files in FASTA, AB1, or text format</td><td></td><td><a href="prepare-samples/public-samples">public-samples</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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