| We recommend the following: • Agar plates must be kept refrigerated or on freezer packs until ready to use. • The plates must be allowed to warmup to room temperature before taking a sample (approx. 15minutes). • Do not remove the lid from the plate at anytime except during sampling. • Seal the lid to the plate after sample collection with Parafilm or tape. • The plates must be shipped back to EMSL with freezer packs by OVERNIGHT. • Adequate packing material must be sent to protect the plates. • Plates must not come into direct contact with the freezer pack, as the media may freeze, invalidating the tests. • If there is any delay in sending the agar plates to EMSL, they should be refrigerated until ready for overnight delivery. |