Collection and Storage of Fecal Specimens for Microbiome Studies Using a Preservative Buffer At Ambient Temperature Preserves Overall Microbial Community Structure for Up to One Week.

A single stool sample from a healthy human volunteer was aliquotted into 3 categories of storage conditions: gold standard (immediate freezing, control: water at room temperature, and experimental: buffer at room temperature. Samples were stored at room temperature and a set of water and buffer solutions were frozen on a daily basis for up to 7 days.