The collection and storage of water-related matrices such as biofilm from collection to processing are critical for the detection of by cultural and molecular tests. SRK™ is a liquid medium that acts both as an antimicrobial neutralizing agent and a transport medium for bacterial culture enumeration and is useful to maintain the stability of the sample from collection to analysis. The aims of this study were to evaluate viability and bacterial nucleic acids' stability in SRK™ medium over time at different storage conditions. Artificial bacterial inoculates with an approximate concentration of 10, 10 and 10 CFU/mL were made using certified reference material suspended in SRK™ medium. Bacteria recovery was analyzed by cultural and molecular methods at time 0, 24 and 48 h at room temperature and at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h at 2-8 °C, respectively. SRK™ medium supported culture viability with CFU counts within the expected range. The recovery after 72 h at 2-8 °C was 83-100% and 75-95% after 48 h at room temperature. Real-time PCR appropriately detected DNA at each temperature condition, dilution and time point. Results demonstrated a good performance of SRK™ medium for the reliable recovery of environmental .
