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This chapter discusses the storing, shipping, and maintaining records on bacterial strains. It is extremely important that wild-type and mutant strains be stored by methods, which not only assure survival, but which also make certain that the genotype, and hence, the phenotype of the strains do not change. It is important to recheck the strains after they have been stored in permanent culture and before being reported. Storage methods, which do not require metabolic activity and cell growth, are preferable; methods, which allow growth greatly increase the chances of mutation and variation in the cultures. Freezing is the simplest and most common method of storage. For most bacteria, storage in ultra-cold mechanical freezers (-70^°C to -90^°C) is very effective. Storage in -20^°C commercial freezers is adequate for many bacteria for periods up to 1–2 years but is not recommended for long-term storage …