An easy method for preserving nucleic acids in field samples for later molecular and genetic studies without refrigerating

The nucleic acids in field collected samples of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, invertebrates and vertebrates were well preserved in buffered solution of 4M guanidium‐thiocyanate. This method is particularly suitable for population, epidemiological and parasitological molecular studies. The DNA and RNA from samples kept up to 41 days without refrigeration in this way were suitable for PCR and reverse transcription PCR.