Enhanced virus isolation by use of the transporter for a regional laboratory

Transporter tubes with fibroblast monolayers were compared with sucrose-phosphate-glutamate buffer for transport of 385 specimens to a regional laboratory for virus culture. Ninety-two (91%) of 101 viral isolates were recovered in cell culture from the Transporter, as compared with 82 (81%) from sucrose-phosphate-glutamate buffer. Twenty-five (24.7%) of the viral isolates were detected by cytopathic effect from 1 to 11 days earlier from the Transporter than from the sucrose-phosphate-glutamate buffer. The Transporter also permitted the use of ambient temperature for transport.