American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)

Collections, research and informatics services: a 98 year old ongoing program for the isolation, Collection, acquisition and provision of authentic cultures of living microorganisms, human, animal and plant cells, derivatives including genetic materials and related bioproducts in support of science. The Collection's size was well over 100,000 strains and dna and rdna materials, and over 300,000 biological items were distributed to thousands of scientists worldwide. In addition to the materials, atcc maintains extensive information about the specimens, and related preservation and lab techniques thereto, in the collections. This information is made available to the scientific community through publications and the extensive atcc internet web site.

Professional services: this program encompasses several activities related to the support of the atcc collections, providing special support services to the scientific community (1) applied sciences: provides expert technical support to the scientific community to properly identify, handle or otherwise utilize biological materials. These activities include laboratory, professional consultation, or technical management services. (2) patent deposit services: atcc provides storage facilities for safeguarding cultures deposited for patent purposes. Under the uspto rules these deposits must be made available, on issuance of the patent, to further enhance scientific research. Atcc provides safekeeping of the cultures and distribution to the research scientists.