Once the data has been checked, we discard the unsorted portion of the sample unless you tell us otherwise. The identified portion of the sample is archived in our permanent collections and kept for the foreseeable future, hopefully forever, but as we run out of space, a five year limit may be imposed. Archived samples are stored in 70% ethanol in glass screw-top vials with polypropylene lids and polypropylene liners. Sample labels are written with fade proof permanent black carbon ink on waterproof paper. Information on each label includes the sampling location, sampling date and a unique catalog number. This catalog number is maintained in a computer database. Additional information stored in this computer database includes more specificity on the locality and methods of collection, the agency and personnel who made the collection, the person who identified the specimens, and any additional information associated with a sample. Samples are stored sequentially in a metal cabinet. Retrieval of individual samples or a group of samples with select taxa or by geographic area is quick and easy using a menu driven computer program. Alternatively, if you would rather keep your samples yourself we will happily return them in containers as described above.