The main function of the CECT is to keep and to distribute microbial strains to a wide range of users. Strains can be delivered freeze dried (user must reconstitute them), as active cultures, in Acticult^® 3R form (active culture and 3 vials to be inoculated by the user for storage), as CECT^® 6R (six inoculated vials for storage) or as genomic DNA See Price List. Not all strains are available in every presentation; please ask for your particular strain. Outside Spain the CECT can only send freeze dried strains unless they are not available in this format. In this case active cultures can be sent only to Europe. In all cases courier companies are used for transport and delivery to ensure traceability.

Payment must be done by Bank cheque to Colección Española de Cultivos Tipo (CECT) or wire transfer. Users inside Spain have 90 days to make the payment after receiving the strains. For foreign orders a pro forma invoice will be sent on receiving the order. Payment of this pro forma invoice is a compulsory condition for strains to be sent abroad. In these cases you should bear in mind that some banks charge commission on wire transfers or on emitting cheques. The net amount to be received by the CECT must be that indicated on the corresponding pro forma invoice.

Strains for Public Research (Universities, Institutes or others) are sent with a delivery note, which outlines the characteristics of the strain and the chemical composition of the media recommended for recovery and growth. Strains for state, regional and municipal laboratories of the Public Health Service or for Companies, Private Universities, Foundations and other institutions, will be sent with the delivery note and with an analysis certificate. Freeze dried strains have different fees according to the kind of institution See Price List.

CECT offers at a reduced price an assortment of strains for demonstration classes See Price List. Please ask for more information about the content of this assortment.

The instructions on how to recover the freeze-dried samples can be downloaded here in PDF format.

Any complaints about the strains should be made using the form that can be found here.