ATCC is the premier global biological materials resource and standards organization whose mission focuses on the acquisition, authentication, production, preservation, development, and distribution of standard reference microorganisms, cell lines, and other materials. While maintaining traditional collection materials, ATCC develops high quality products, standards, and services to support scientific research and breakthroughs that improve the health of global populations.

ATCC headquarters and bioproduction facilities are located in Manassas, Virginia, near the Nation’s Capital and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The 126,000 sq. ft. building is continuously monitored by on-site security staff and electric power is backed up by on-site generators. The repository portion of the facility occupies 18,000 sq. ft. and contains 200 freezers for the storage of biomaterials, including vapor-phase liquid nitrogen freezers, mechanical freezers, and cold rooms. The repository space is complemented by 35,000 sq. ft. of laboratory space.

History

ATCC was established in 1925 when a committee of scientists recognized a need for a central collection of microorganisms that would serve scientists all over the world. The early years were spent at the McCormick Institute in Chicago until the organization moved to Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1937. As research in the biosciences expanded ATCC began to diversify its holdings, and as the collections grew, ATCC occupied a series of sites, each providing more storage space. ATCC moved to its current location in 1998.