What do I do with my algae when it arrives?

Enclosed with every order is an informational sheet with general instructions and things to do once you have received them (titled "Immediate Attention Needed"). The same information has also been copied below for your convenience. It is important that you verify viability with a microscope within 48 hours of delivery and notify us of any issues. We have a strict 48-hour notification window for all replacement requests.

IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED

Cultures sent to customers can remain viable for at least 2 weeks provided that the following precautions are observed:

• Cultures should be unpacked immediately upon receipt.
• Screwcaps should be loosened, but not removed completely, to allow gas exchange.
• Place the tubes in light and at the appropriate temperature:
  • Important: Check the included "Algae Details" sheet to see if a strain requires a specific temperature. Otherwise, strains should be kept at room temperature (20 °C/68 °F) under a 12:12 (light/dark) diurnal light cycle.
  • Do not put tubes in direct sunlight or store them in a refrigerator.
• View strain(s) under a microscope to ensure strain integrity and viability.

For Freshwater Diatoms ('FD'-designated):

• Follow the above steps but allow time for the soil to settle before examining the culture under a microscope.
  • You may have to look at more than one slide as cells are typically not in abundance.
• Cell growth will occur on the surface or within the soil, not the liquid above.

Further maintenance or multiplication of cultures requires transfer into new culture media. This presupposes experience in simple microbial techniques.

Those who receive cultures are encouraged to duplicate within reason the conditions used in the Collection, when handling newly acquired cultures, to reduce the chance of losing the culture. After a stock culture is established, subcultures may be used for testing other conditions.

Visit the UTEX Culture Maintenance page for additional information and specifications utilized at UTEX.