Hi Benamor,

There are many methods available for storing fecal samples for DNA extraction.

What I can suggest is if you are planning to collect the fecal chunks then store them in absolute ethanol. But the better option would be to collect the fecal swabs (from the outer surface of the fecal matter to maximize the host DNA and minimize the exogenous DNA), and store in a lysis buffer (eg. Longmire's solution) and it can be stored in -20 if you wish to keep them for long before DNA extraction.

For long term storage. the best way would be to extract the samples as soon as possible and then store the DNA extracts at -20 or -80, without inducing multiple freeze-thaw cycles, by doing this you will reduce the chances of DNA degradation.

Please let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Thanks and I hope this is useful.

Dear Benamor Naceur

I agree withAbhinav Tyagi

You can also offer deep freeze. Only the refrigerator compartment should not defrost.

Regards, Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich

Room temperature for 5 days or liquid nitrogen storage

Dear Abhinav Tyagi

Thank you very much for this reply

Very valuable information that will help me and help many research

Thanks again

Dear Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich

Thank you so much for this response

Dear Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman

Thank you very much.

Room temperature for 5 days ! can you please explain to me more about this information? It means we don't use any kind of preservative here?

I think the DNA is stable for 5 days at room temperature with no treatment, but obviously preservation with liquid nitrogen ASAP is better

Dear Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman

Thank you, colleague

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

Hi Benamor. What has worked for me is to store fecal samples in tubes filled with RNAlater buffer solution. The advantage is that as long as you keep the samples at room temperature, they should be ok for subsequent DNA extraction. This is especially useful if you are not sure how soon you`ll be able to store them in a freeze/fridge. However, RNAlater is rather expensive, so you have to take that into account too.