The CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection

What to know

  • The CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection (CRIRC) is housed within the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • The collection serves as a repository for reference strains.
  • The CRIRC contains more than 300 isolates of species of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia, Orientia, and Rickettsia.
  • DNA and viable culture samples can be requested.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mission

The CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection (CRIRC) preserves the work of generations of rickettsiologists and public health scientists to support current public health science and research by providing quality bacterial cultures and DNA samples at no cost to other public health and research institutions in the United States.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis bacteria in DH83 cell culture (Diff-Quik stain).
Benefits of Contributing to the CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection
Support public health by depositing isolates in the CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection.
Rickettsia parkeri bacteria in Vero E6 cell culture (acridine orange stain).
Search the CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection
The CDC Rickettsial Isolate Reference Collection serves as a repository of more than 300 isolates.

Requesting samples from the CRIRC

If you are interested in requesting an isolate or DNA sample, download and submit a request form to CRIRC@cdc.gov.

Note: In general, the CRIRC does not support large-scale requests for isolates or DNA. Requests for more than five isolates or DNA samples will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Questions?

For questions about the CRIRC, contact CRIRC@cdc.gov

For all other questions, Contact CDC-INFO

International requests

  • International requesters are required to pay the cost of shipping.
  • The requester is responsible for procuring the required paperwork and permits for the country of import.
  • CDC is not responsible for delays in shipping or customs clearance due to missing or incorrect paperwork.

Commercial requests

All commercial requests will require review by CDC's Technology Transfer Office.

Contents and maintenance

Contents of the collection

The CRIRC consists of over 300 bacterial isolates from arthropod, animal, and human sources including contemporary and historical isolates dating back to 1935.

As of May 21, 2025, the CRIRC collection includes:

Anaplasma
1 species
Ehrlichia
4 species and 2 subspecies
Neorickettsia
1 species
Orientia
1 species
Rickettsia*
25 species and 11 subspecies

*Note: Laboratory work with Rickettsia spp. may be conducted in a BSL-2 facility with enhanced special practices including strict access control, competency, and adherence to BSL-3 practices. BSL-3 practices include, but are not limited to, appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g., rear-closing gowns, gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection such as N95 respirators or PAPRs), use of biological safety cabinets when handling any open container with potentially infectious material, and primary containment, such as sealed centrifuge rotors and other means of containment outside the BSC. For more information, see Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition | CDC Laboratories.

Rickettsia tillamookensis bacterium in cytosol of Vero E6 cell.
Rickettsia tillamookensis bacterium in the cytosol of infected Vero E6 cell.

Quality control testing

  • Species confirmation using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing
  • Select-agent screening for Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia prowazekii
  • Inclusivity and exclusivity testing
  • Mycoplasma contamination testing
  • Mycoplasma clearance using antibiotics
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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)