TRANSPORT AND STORAGE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI FROM GASTRIC-MUCOSAL BIOPSIES AND CLINICAL ISOLATES

Various transport and storage conditions for the recovery of Helicobac ter pylori from gastric biopsies were evaluated. Gastric mucosal biops ies from 16 Helicobacter pylori-infected patients were stored in cyste ine-Albimi medium containing 20 % glycerol in a refrigerator (4 degree s C) for 1 and 2 weeks and in a -20 degrees C laboratory freezer for 4 and 12 weeks. Two clinical isolates were stored in saline, Stuart's t ransport media, cysteine-Albimi broth with 20 % glycerol, brucella bro th with 20 % glycerol and skim milk with 17 % glycerol at room tempera ture, 4 degrees C, -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C. Storage at 4 degre es C for 1 and 2 weeks resulted in Helicobacter pylori recovery from 8 1 % and 19 % of biopsies, respectively. Storage at -20 degrees C yield ed Helicobacter pylori recovery in 100 % and 57 % after 4 and 12 weeks , respectively. At room temperature after 6 h, the Helicobacter pylori titer was reduced. The best storage media for frozen isolates were sk im milk/glycerol, brucella broth/glycerol glycerol and cysteine-Albimi /glycerol (in descending order). Recovery was better at -70 degrees C than -20 degrees C.