ARS Culture Collection (NRRL)

Our Policies and Procedures

Open Collection Policy (Strain Requests)

Requests should be made via the online ordering system for strains in the public access catalog. Inquiries regarding strains not found in the online catalog should be made by e-mail to The Collection Manager and should include the accession number, if known, and the name of the organism.
Plant pathogen strains require an APHIS PPQ 526 permit and animal pathogen strains require an APHIS VS 16-3 permit in advance of shipment.

Open Collection Policy (Strain Deposits)

Requests for deposition of strains into the ARS Open Culture Collection must be made to the Collection Manager in advance of shipment of culture materials. This must be done to ensure the Collection will be able to cultivate the microorganism(s), is willing to accept the proposed deposit, and has the appropriate APHIS permits, when necessary.
Please click on this link for the deposit spreadsheet NRRL Deposit Spreadsheet.

Open Collection Policy (Strain Fees/Limit Policy)

All strains from the Open Collection are free of charge, excluding postage and customs fees.
Requests must be limited to 24 strains per request, and may total no more than 24 strains to a given laboratory/ department on an annual basis.
(24 strains per any 12 month period).
Inquiries regarding obtaining more strains than the annual limit should be directed to the Collection Manager
well in advance of a request.

Patent Collection Policy (Strain Requests)

Strains in the Patent Collection are not available in the Online Catalog. To request a patent strain, you must email us a digitally signed letter of request on your institution's letterhead stating the NRRL # for the strain, along with a prepaid shipping air waybill for a 1 lb padded envelope. There is a charge of $40.00 for each strain requested. If your institution requires a PO# on invoice, please include in your letter. We will send an invoice for payment via email, once the strain(s) have departed to shipping.

Patent Collection Policy (Strain Deposits)

We accept mold, bacteria and yeast for deposit for patent protection under the Budapest Treaty. Requests for deposition of strains into the ARS Patent Culture Collection must be made to the Collection Manager in advance of shipment of culture materials. A deposit form for each strain must be completed and sent with the cultures. There is a charge of $670.00 per patent strain deposited in the patent collection.
Please click on this link for the deposit form NRRL Patent Deposit Form

Shipping Cost/Procedures

All requests must include an electronic image (PDF) of a prepaid shipping label for a 1 lb (0.5 kg) padded envelope (8.5" x 11"). Carriers include FedEx, UPS, USPS.
All international orders use FedEx, UPS or DHL and will need a Proforma Invoice completed and scanned at check-out. Invoice total value is $1.00.
Shipping From:
Collection Manager
ARS Culture Collection (NRRL)
1815 N. University Street
Peoria, IL 61604
309-681-6398