1. Harvest cells from a culture that is at or near peak density by centrifugation at 800 x g for 5 min. The cells grown in a medium containing agar are concentrated by centrifugation, a solid pellet does not form. The soft pellet is re-suspended to desired cell concentration with agar-free supernatant.
2. Adjust the concentration of cells to 2 x 10⁶/mL^xa0to 2 x 10⁷/mL in fresh medium.
3. While cells are centrifuging prepare a 10% (v/v) solution of sterile DMSO in fresh medium.
   1. Add 1.0 mL of DMSO to an ice cold 20 x 150 mm screw-capped test tube;
   2. Place the tube on ice and allow the DMSO to solidify (~5 min) and then add 9.0 mL of ice cold medium;
   3. Invert several times to dissolve the DMSO;
   4. Allow to warm to room temperature.
4. Mix the cell preparation and the DMSO in equal portions. Thus, the final concentration will be 10⁶ toxa010⁷ cells/mL and 5% (v/v) DMSO. The time from the mixing of the cell preparation and DMSO stock solution before the freezing process is begun should no less than 15 min and no longer than 30 min.
5. Dispense in 0.5 mL aliquots into 1.0 mL toxa02.0 mL sterile plastic screw-capped cryules (special plastic vials for cryopreservation).
6. Place the vials in a controlled rate freezing unit.xa0 From room temperature cool at -1°C/min to -40°C.xa0 If the freezing unit can compensate for the heat of fusion, maintain rate atxa0 -1°C/min through the heat of fusion.xa0 At -40°C plunge into liquid nitrogen. Alternatively, place the vials in a Nalgene 1°C freezing apparatus.xa0 Place the apparatus at -80°C for 1.5 to 2 hours and then plunge ampules into liquid nitrogen.xa0 (The cooling rate in this apparatus is approximatelyxa0-1°C/min.)xa0
7. The frozen preparations should be stored in either the vapor or liquid phase of a nitrogen refrigerator. Frozen preparations stored below -130°C are stabile indefinitely. Those stored at temperatures above -130°C are progressively less stabile as the storage temperature is elevated. Vials should not be stored above -55°C.
8. To establish a culture from the frozen state place an ampule in a water bath set at 35°C. Immerse the vial just to a level just above the surface of the frozen material. Do not agitate the vial.
9. Immediately after thawing, do not leave in the water bath, aseptically remove the contents of the ampule and inoculate a 16 x 125 mm screw-capped test tube containing 13 mL of ATCC medium 2154.
10. Incubate the culture on a 15° horizontal slant at 35°C.

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