If you are considering setting up a collection of your own or enhancing the one you have why re-invent the wheel or make the same old mistakes. There are lots of sources of information, look through the UKNCC web pages for advice or contact a collection. The UKNCC follow a quality management system which will provide relevant information. Read the UKNCC Quality Manual for further information.

The World Federation for Culture Collections have published guidelines which they are currently updating. The old edition (1990) are available from the WFCC secretariat (see organisations) and on the WFCC web site.

WDCM (World Data Center for Microorganisms)

Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411, Japan. Tel: +81-559-81-6895; Fax: +81-559-81-6896. URL: http://wdcm.nig.ac.jp/

Hawksworth, D.L., Sastramihardja, I., Kokke, R. & Stevenson, R. (1990) Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Collections of Cultures of Microorganisms. Campinas: World Federation for Culture Collection.

Some further reading that may help:

Hawksworth, D.L. & Kirsop, B. (eds) (1988) Living Resources for Biotechnology. UK: Cambridge University Press.

Kirsop, B.E. & Krutzman, C.P. (eds.) (1988). Living Resources for Biotechnology: Yeasts, 234 pp., Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Onions, A.H.S. & Smith, D. (1984) Current status of culture preservation and technology. In: Critical problems of Culture Collections (edited by L.R. Batra & T. Iigima). Osaka: Institute of Fermentation Osaka.

Smith, D. & Onions, A.H.S. (1994). The Preservation and Maintenance of Living Fungi, second edition CAB Bioscience UK Centre (Egham) Technical Handbooks 2: Wallingford, CAB INTERNATIONAL.

Smith, D. (1996). Biodiversity: appropriate conservation techniques and programmes. In: Proceedings, International Biodiversity Seminar ECCO XIV Meeting June 30 - July 4, 1995, Gozd Martuljek, Slovenia. Ljubljana: Slovenian National Committee for UNESCO and the National Institute of Chemistry.

Smith, D. & Kolkowski, J. (1996). Fungi In: Preservation and Maintenance of cultures used in Biotechnology and Industry. pp 101-132. USA: Academic Press Inc.

Stevenson, R.E. & Jong, S.C. (1992) Application of good laboratory practice (GLP) to culture collections of microbial and cell cultures. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 8, 229-235.