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Patent Depository

Patent Deposit Services

ATCC has been providing dependable storage of materials for patent purposes since 1949, long before depositing was a formal requirement of any patent office. Our patent depository currently includes more than 20,000 strains of biological materials.

 

Features
  • Dependable storage.ATCC has been storing biological materials since 1925. We are experts in maintaining viability and integrity of cultures.
  • International patenting.ATCC is an International Depository Authority (IDA) under the International Budapest Treaty for deposits to meet patent office requirements in many countries. All countries signatory to the Budapest Treaty must recognize the deposit of biological material with any IDA. Standard patent deposit, which meets the requirements of the USPTO, is also available.
  • Versatile storage.ATCC accepts the following biological material for patent purposes: algae, animal viruses, bacteria, bacteriophages, cell lines, cloned genes, nonhuman embryos, filamentous fungi, hybridomas, plant tissue cultures, plant viruses, purified DNA, protozoa, genomics materials (clones, vectors, libraries, etc.), seeds, and yeasts.
  • Security and confidentiality.Our facility is specially designed for secure long-term storage of biological materials. All deposits are strictly confidential until the patent issues.
  • Related services.ATCC can also provide custom freezing, interim storage, and depositor notification of purchasers upon request.

 

How to deposit

The first step in depositing materials for patent purposes is to contact the Patent Depository prior to shipping your biological materials.

    ATCC Patent Depository
    10801 University Blvd.
    Manassas, VA 20110
    Fax: 703-334-2932
    E-mail

 

Please select one of the forms below to initiate a patent deposit. The deposit form selected must accompany your patent materials during time of shipment:

  • Form BP/1 must be completed for deposits to meet the requirements of the Budapest Treaty
  • Form 34 must be completed for all other patent deposits. It is not necessary to complete Form 34 if you complete the Budapest Treaty BP/1 form. If both forms are completed, the BP/1 form supersedes the Form 34.
  • There is an additional information form for depositing a virus.

 

Complete identification is required for each deposited item to ensure that ATCC is aware of all characteristics that may impact regulatory compliance in their handling, storage, and distribution. This information must be included on the patent deposit form or appended as necessary.

The following list describes how much biological material is needed for a valid deposit.

  • Microorganisms such as bacteria (either containing a plasmid or not containing a plasmid), bacteriophages, fungi, algae, yeast, and protozoa: 25 frozen or freeze-dried samples (0.5 ml each).
  • Mixed cultures and consortia: 25 frozen or freeze-dried samples (0.5 ml each).
  • Cell lines and hybridomas: 25 frozen samples (2 - 6 million cells each).
  • Plasmids and vectors: (e.g., purified DNA, libraries, and associated genomics materials): 25 vials (100 ng each).
  • Animal and plant viruses: 25 frozen or freeze-dried samples (1 ml each).
  • Embryos:1 25 frozen samples (12 embryos constitute one sample).
  • Plant tissue cultures: 25 frozen samples. Must be callus tissue. Seeds preferred.
  • Seeds: 2500 seeds (100 labeled packets of 25 seeds each).

Please contact ATCC before sending embryos.

In the case of embryos, viruses, cell cultures, purified plasmids or vectors, consortia, mixed cultures and seeds, it is the responsibility of the depositor to furnish sufficient quantity for the specified period of time. In most instances ATCC will not replicate this type of material. For seeds, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers 2500 seeds to be a minimum number in a normal case, please refer to USPTO reference MPEP 2403.02.

ATCC does not accept test tubes or other actively growing cultures.

Fees Services and Pricing

Storage and informing: $2500

Methods of Payment

You may pay for patent services in the following ways:

  • Checks drawn on a U.S.A. bank made payable to ATCC, 5779 Collections Center Dr., Chicago, IL 60693
  • Charge to Visa, MasterCard or American Express
  • Transfer of funds to Account Number 003933990352, ABA # 052001633, American Type Culture Collection, c/o Bank of America, N.A., Baltimore, MD. Federal ID #53-0196548.
  • Purchase orders.

More information about making a patent deposit.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)