There is extensive data to support the use of commercial transport media as a stabilizer for known clinical samples; however, there is little information to support their use outside of controlled conditions specified by the manufacturer. Furthermore, there is no data to determine the suitability of said media for biological pathogens, specifically those of interest to the US military. This study evaluates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) transport media based on sample recovery, viability, and quality of nucleic acids and peptides for nonpathogenic strains of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, in addition to ricin toxin. Samples were stored in COTS, PBST, or no media at various temperatures over an extended test period. The results demonstrate that COTS media, although sufficient for the preservation of nucleic acid and proteinaceous material, are not capable of maintaining an accurate representation of biothreat agents at the time of collection. 1. Introduction The anthrax attacks of 2001 highlighted gaps in the US bio-terrorism related preparedness [1]. The large numbers of incoming samples overwhelmed on-site mobile laboratories and required shipping sample off-site for analysis of viability in support of large-scale remediation activities such as those that occurred at the Brentwood Postal Offices and the Hart Senate Office building [2]. On-site sample extracts were stored in water at 4°C or ？20°C for longer storage times. For off-site analysis, swabs were shipped dry on ice. Retrospective analysis of the events clearly indicates that a lack of standardized collection and processing techniques for environmental samples complicated contamination and clean-up assessment [1, 3]. Biological remediation activities, longitudinal clinical studies, and verification activities in support of military and treaty exploitation each share a common theme—a requirement to collect samples and preserve them for examination and analysis at a future date. In situations where samples must be analyzed by offsite laboratories, significant time can elapse between when a sample is collected and when it is analyzed. In these situations a biological sample will often lose viability for re-growth or degrade and denature which makes subsequent analysis by PCR or immunoassay more difficult. It is imperative to have a process for short- and long-term storage that is efficient and preserves sample integrity over time. For collection teams that support military or international treaty verification organizations, that need is further
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