title: Transport and storage of Helicobacter pylori from gastric mucosal biopsies and clinical isolates.
abstract: Various transport and storage conditions for the recovery of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies were evaluated. Gastric mucosal biopsies from 16 Helicobacter pylori-infected patients were stored in cysteine-Albimi medium containing 20% glycerol in a refrigerator (4 degrees 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 transport media, cysteine-Albimi broth with 20% glycerol, brucella broth with 20% glycerol and skim milk with 17% glycerol at room temperature, 4 degrees C, -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C. Storage at 4 degrees C for 1 and 2 weeks resulted in Helicobacter pylori recovery from 81% and 19% of biopsies, respectively. Storage at -20 degrees C yielded 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 skim milk/glycerol, brucella broth/glycerol and cysteine-Albimi/glycerol (in descending order). Recovery was better at -70 degrees C than -20 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flamm
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clarridge
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drnec
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media