Division 4 Storage of isolates

One confirmed Listeria monocytogenes strain per positive sample shall be stored for possible further typing studies. If Listeria monocytogenes strains are recovered both from the detection and enumeration methods, only the isolates from the enumeration method shall be stored.

Isolates shall be stored by the national reference laboratories using appropriate methods for culture collection as long as it ensures viability of the strains for a minimum of 2 years for the typing.