Agar and liquid cultures for an order are packaged within a Styrofoam* box and shipped on the same day they are packed.  UTEX makes no attempt to quantify the number of organisms or other characteristics of the culture.  UTEX only guarantees the identity of the organism as specified in the strain history.

Agar Cultures

Aliquots of algal strains that are maintained on agar slants are transferred to the surface of fresh slants in 25-mm diameter glass screw-cap tubes in preparation for shipment.  The fresh inocula are grown in a diurnal light cycle for at least 3 days until a macroscopically visible lawn appears.

Approximately 15 mL aliquots of strains that are maintained as liquid cultures are transferred to screw-cap tubes on the day of shipment.