Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing microorganisms obtained from samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and environmental origin. Compositions preserve the viability of the collected organisms and permit the long-term storage of samples. Compositions are compatible with subsequent manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the collected microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and all macromolecules. When the compositions containing microorganisms and any polynucleotides therein are further processed, such as by nucleic acid testing, there is an increased ability to detect, isolate, purify and/or characterize select microbes and their components, such as nucleic acids, when compared to conventional microbial transport media that contain interfering substance(s). In particular formulations, the compositions disclosed herein allow biological samples to be collected, transported, and even stored for extended periods, and are compatible with nucleic acid extraction, identification, quantitation, PCR amplification, and genomic analysis methodologies.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim