To achieve the goal of poliovirus eradication, surveillance of endemic areas is a crucial step in the poliovirus eradication program. Currently, six countries still have endemic poliovirus. We have tested a novel method which uses SDS/EDTA-treated chromatography paper strips to collect and transport poliovirus-containing stool samples. The SDS/EDTA-treated paper strips were soaked with different dilutions of poliovirus-containing feces and stored at different temperatures. After storing the SDS/EDTA paper strips for 5 months at 37 C, poliovirus RNA could be successfully amplified using RT-PCR. Infectivity of wild-type poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3 was lost upon contact with the SDS/EDTA-treated strips. This easy, inexpensive, and biosafe chromatography paper strip method for the collection and transportation of poliovirus samples can be of use in poliovirus surveillance and polio vaccination programs. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.