Traditional culture of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) has involved egg-based formulations (Lowenstein-Jensen medium, Ogawa Egg medium) or defined media (Middlebrook formulations), which have disadvatages of composition complexity, availability and cost. Previously, the commercial agar formulation, Standard Plate Count (SPC) agar [Yeast extract 2.5 g/L, pancreatic digest of casein 5.0 g/L, glucose 1.0 g/L, agar 15.0 g/L, pH 7.0 ± 0.2 at 25 °C] has been shown to be an effective solid medium for the enumeration and laboratory manipulation of Mycobacterium abscessus complex organisms. Given its relative simplicity, commercial availability and inexpensive cost, we wished to evaluate its utility for the medium- to longterm maintenance/storage of these organisms. M. abscessus complex organisms (n = 33), were inoculated onto SPCA slopes and stored undistubed in the dark at ambient temperature for six months. Following this, slopes were broken out and culture of the NTM attempted. All slopes maintained NTM culture viability and were able to initiate growth six months later. We therefore advocate the cost-effective employment of SPCA slopes for the medium- to longterm maintenance of M. abscessus organisms, without the need for complex media, availability of sterile blood and requirements for continuous -80 °C freezing.

非结核分枝杆菌 (NTM) 的传统培养涉及基于鸡蛋的配方（Lowenstein-Jensen 培养基、Ogawa Egg 培养基）或成分确定的培养基（Middlebrook 配方），它们具有组成复杂性、可用性和成本的缺点。以前，商业琼脂配方，标准平板计数 (SPC) 琼脂 [酵母提取物 2.5 g/L，酪蛋白胰消化物 5.0 g/L，葡萄糖 1.0 g/L，琼脂 15.0 g/L，pH 7.0 ± 0.2 at 25 ° C] 已被证明是一种有效的固体培养基，可用于脓肿分枝杆菌复杂生物的计数和实验室操作。鉴于其相对简单、商业可用性和低廉的成本，我们希望评估其对这些生物的中长期维护/储存的效用。脓肿分枝杆菌复杂的生物体 ( n  = 33)，被接种到 SPCA 斜坡上，并在环境温度下在黑暗中不受干扰地储存六个月。在此之后，斜坡被打破并尝试培养 NTM。所有斜坡都保持了 NTM 培养活力，并能够在六个月后开始生长。因此，我们提倡采用具有成本效益的 SPCA 斜坡来中长期维持M. abscessus生物体，而不需要复杂的培养基、无菌血液的可用性和持续 -80 °C 冷冻的要求。