Instructions for Submitting Samples

  • Do not submit samples without prior approval. Strains sent without prior approval and strains brought into the country without an appropriate USDA permit with be autoclaved and discarded.
  • Samples must be shipped in sturdy leak proof containers. Samples should wrapped with bubble wrap or paper to avoid crushing or breakage of petri plates and tubes.
  • Only pure cultures should be submitted (each bacterial culture must contain only one strain).
  • Bacterial cultures should be no more than 24-48 hrs old when mailed. For mailing addresses, please read below.
  • Cultures may be submitted on petri plates, agar slants, or in sterile water. Plates or tubes should be wrapped with parafilm and then sealed in two plastic bags.
  • If you are submitting live organisms from outside of the U.S., we must send you a copy of our USDA permit before cultures can be mailed to us. Permits are sent by overnight courier. This permit should be attached to the outside of the package that you send us.
  • Cultures should be sent by overnight delivery.
  • We can process other plant and animal material for fatty acid analysis. Please call us to discuss your specific project.
  • Payment must be made by check and must be in U.S. dollars. We cannot process purchase orders or credit cards.
  • Analysis of bacterial strains, that will grow under the standard conditions for time, temperature, and media, can be completed within one week

For additional information contact:

Ellen R. Dickstein
Plant Pathology Department
P.O. Box 110680
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
Office hours are 7 am. to 4 pm EST.
Phone: (352) 846-1984
FAX: (352) 392-6532
E-Mail: erd@ufl.edu

Mailing address for UPS, Federal Ex, and couriers other than U.S. mail:

Ellen R. Dickstein
Plant Pathology Department
1453 Fifield Hall
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611 US