Conservation of phage reference materials and water samples containing bacteriophages of enteric bacteria.

The survival was determined in different conservation conditions of: somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA bacteriophages and phages infecting Bacteroides fragilis proposed as model micro-organisms for water quality control. Titres of phages of all groups either in pure culture phage suspensions or in naturally occurring phage suspensions were stable at (-70+/-10) degrees C and at (-20+/-5) degrees C when protected with glycerol. Moreover, phage analysis of stored suspensions demonstrated that their numbers were homogeneous, both between vials and within vials, and consequently they can be used as reference materials. Furthermore, changes in the storage temperature of the vials cause unpredictable changes in the numbers of bacteriophages. Consequently, phage reference materials and samples containing a quantitative number of phages must be maintained and dispatched at a constant temperature. Consequently, the results indicate that bacteriophages should be packed in dry ice during transport and storage. Finally, the number of phages in water samples stored at (5+/-3) degrees C in the dark does not decrease significantly during the first 72 h of storage. In addition, phage concentrates from natural samples obtained by adsorption-elution to cellulose nitrate filters and mixed with 10% glycerol were stable at least for 2 months at (-70+/-10) degrees C and at (-20+/-5) degrees C. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.