A method for the preservation of fungal strains is presented. The cultures are grown on Sabouraud glucose agar in glass ampoules and lyophilized without further processing. By this method the macroscopical morphology of the cultures is preserved, so that these can be used immediately without recultivation as reference cultures. All tested mould and yeast strains remained viable over the six months duration of the experiment, whereas the dermatophyte strains could only partially be recultivated.