---
title: UniTranz-RT Validated for Viral Sample Storage at Room Temperature
description: One of the biggest challenges in off-site collection and viral sample storage is maintaining the viability of the sample during collection and transport.
---

[Puritan Medical Products Blog ](https://blog.puritanmedproducts.com)

# [UniTranz-RT Validated for Viral Sample Storage at Room Temperature](https://blog.puritanmedproducts.com/unitranz-rt-validated-for-viral-sample-storage-at-room-temperature)

 Written by [Puritan Medical](https://blog.puritanmedproducts.com/author/puritan-medical) | Sep 9, 2015 8:54:36 PM

 

One of the biggest challenges in off-site specimen collection is maintaining the viability of the sample during collection and transport. 

## **Challenges with Off-Site Viral Sample Storage **

Of particular concern is the transport temperature and the length time the specimen remains in transport and storage. 

As a general rule, specimens should be transported at or below room temperature. The optimal window for transport for diagnosis is 48 hours, but many times weekend delays mean a sample may be stored for longer periods—often without proper refrigeration. 

## **Performance Evaluation of Viral Transport Systems**

A recent study published in the [April 2015 issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology](https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm) found that Puritan’s UniTranz-RT™ was able to support the viability of clinically relevant viruses at two different temperatures of storage through 72 hours.

## **Study Design**

The goal of [the study](https://www.puritanmedproducts.com/media/studies/JMV_PerformanceEvaluationUniTranz-RT.pdf) was to assess the preservation of the diagnostic value of specimens collected off-site and transported using two commercially available microbial transport media products.

### **Viral Transport Systems Evaluated**

- Puritan’s [Universal Transport System (UniTranz-RT)](https://www.puritanmedproducts.com/diagnostics-specimen-collection/collection-transport-systems.html?media_transport_systems=55)
- BD™’s Universal Viral Transport System (UVT)

### **Microorganisms Sampled**

- * Chlamydia trachomatis *
- *Chlamydia pneumonia *
- *Mycoplasma hominis *
- *Mycoplasma pneumonia *
- *Ureaplasma urealyticum*

### **Conclusions**

Study results demonstrated that UniTranz-RT has the ability to support the viability of clinically relevant viruses at both 4˚C (39.2˚F) and at room temperature (between 20 and 26 °C [68 and 79°F]) for up to 72 hours.

## **UniTranz-RT: "Excellent" Clinical Microbiologst Tool **

Researchers concluded that the “viral transport media tested in this study are excellent clinical microbiology tools for microbiologists.”

[View full post](https://blog.puritanmedproducts.com/unitranz-rt-validated-for-viral-sample-storage-at-room-temperature)

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