CBS-KNAW fungal biodiversity centre
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Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures

Utrecht, The Netherlands

Technical requirements and procedures

Form and quantity

CBS prefers to receive micro-organisms submitted for deposit as lyophilized preparations. Where it is undesirable or impossible to supply lyophilized preparations, active cultures growing in or on a suitable nutrient medium are acceptable. The minimum number of replicates that must be supplied by the depositor when making his deposit is as follows:

fungi 12 lyophilized ampoules (preferably), or 2 agar slants
yeasts 12 lyophilized ampoules plus 1 agar slant (preferably), or 2 agar slants
bacteria 12 lyophilized ampoules plus 1 agar slant (preferably), or 2 agar slants
plasmids (in hosts) 12 lyophilized ampoules plus 1 agar slant (preferably), or 2 agar slants
plasmids (purified DNA) minimum quantity of 50 µg
phages 10 ml with a titre of at least 109 pfu/ml

In cases where the depositor is unable to supply lyophilized preparations, CBS will prepare lyophilized cultures at the time of deposit from the material supplied by the depositor.

Time required for viability testing

The average length of time required for testing viability is 2 weeks for fungi, bacteria, plasmids and phages and 1 week for yeasts, but occasionally viability testing may take longer, particularly if unusual antibiotics or other additives are necessary in the medium.

Checking and renewal of stocks by the depositor

 CBS routinely asks the depositor to check the authenticity of the deposited preparations after subculturing.

New batches of cultures are prepared whenever it is necessary to renew diminishing stocks.

Whichever method is used for preparing batches of samples for distribution, CBS always keeps a portion of the original material supplied by the depositor.