TRANSPORT AND STORAGE-CONDITIONS FOR CULTURAL RECOVERY OF CHLAMYDIA-PNEUMONIAE

Chlamydia pneumoniae is characterized by rapidly decreasing viability outside the host cell, and efficient preservation of its infectivity i s a prerequisite for subsequent cell culture recovery, Extracellular s urvival of three C. pneumoniae stock strains and three wild-type strai ns subjected to simulated conditions of transport was therefore examin ed in order to establish recommendations for transport and storage of clinical specimens, The presence of fetal calf serum in transport medi a as well as refrigeration distinctly improved chlamydial retrieval du ring prolonged transport. Loss of infectivity was kept to a minimum in Eagle's minimal essential medium or sucrose-phosphate-glutamine mediu m. Storage at 22 degrees C permitted a stock strain recovery of 81% af ter 12 h. When refrigeration to 4 degrees C was provided, recovery rat es of 74% could be achieved after 48 h. Though the strains were from d ifferent geographic regions, requirements for good survival were compa rable and should therefore apply worldwide. The results indicate that the laboratory strains are not extremely labile, However, comparative examination of the wild-type strains showed less stability: primary is olates were not satisfactorily retrievable beyond 4 h at 22 degrees C or beyond 24 h at 4 degrees C, Further extension of storage times resu lted in rapidly decreasing recovery, indicating a requirement to freez e samples at -75 degrees C to preserve viability. Adherence to the sho rter storage periods suggested by the data obtained with primary isola tes is recommended to ensure successful transport until more extensive testing with clinical materials is available.