Question

Specimen preservation and storage: unpreserved anaerobes should be stored at _____ ℃. Don't refrigerate.

a) Room temperature (20-25°C)
b) 2-8°C
c) 37°C
d) 4-10°C

Answer 1

Unpreserved anaerobes should be stored at room temperature (20-25°C) and not refrigerated. Incubate bacteria at 37°C if returning to lab within 24 to 36 hours or at room temperature otherwise. For long-term preservation, ultra-low temperatures below -70°C are required.

Step-by-step explanation:

Unpreserved anaerobes should be stored at room temperature (20-25°C). It is not recommended to refrigerate these specimens as certain types of laboratory cultures can be preserved by refrigeration for later use, specifically those that are not anaerobes. Bacteria that grow best at room temperature should always be incubated at room temperature, which may take a bit longer for growth compared to those that prefer body temperature (37°C).

For the bacteria that grow best at body temperature, if returning to the lab within 24 to 36 hours, they should be incubated at 37°C, otherwise, they should be stored at room temperature or transferred to a refrigerator after growth. It is also important to note that long-term preservation requires ultra-low temperatures, usually below -70°C.