The effect of drying on the loss of viability of B. dermatitidis in sterile soil is reported. The loss of viability from storage of soil in tubes after 3 days was 75%, with an increase to a 90% loss by 5 days. A 95% loss after 25 days when stored at room temperature or in a desiccator was observed. When soil was placed in a humidity chamber and stored at 4[degree] C for 25 days, only 14% loss in viability occurred. Although B. dermatitidis in soil may lose 90-95% viability after 5-10 days at room temperature, longer storage of up to 90 days did not affect the remaining 5% viable particles. Little change was noted in soil suspended in saline at 4[degree] C after 7 days, but after 30 days a 95% loss of viable particles was detected. The degree of loss of viability appeared to be correlated with water loss by evaporation.