Evaluation of a semisolid medium for preserving microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family

26 bacterial strains from the Enterobacteriaceae family were studied to evaluate the maintenance of the cultural. tinctorial and biochemical properties of the microorganisms originally preserved in the semisolid medium of conservation since the end of the 1980's. 22 of them were viable, showing their survival for more than 10 years. The microorganisms have been maintained in this medium since their introduction into the Laboratory of Collection of Microbial Cultures of the National Institue of Hygiene. Epidemiology and Microbiology of Cuba. They have been used as pattern strains in the internal control of the quality, of reagents and culture media produced in this center for their further use in the microbiological evaluation of environmental samples This medium gives good results for the conservartion of strains of Enterobaceriaceae and may be used in laboratories with scarce resources.