Acquiring Animals
Animals for use in research protocols at Emory DAR may be acquired in a number of ways. Ordering animals from approved vendors is one way. Animals may also be imported from other universities, bred and weaned on campus and procured from other investigators.
Acquisition, Quarantine, Transfer and Use
General
Animals acquired for research must be used under a specific, approved IACUC protocol.
Acquired animals must be stabilized for at least 48 hours prior to use unless an exemption has been specifically approved by the IACUC. See IACUC stabilization policy here.
Animals must be acquired from sources approved by the veterinary staff and ordered through the animal resources office. Animals from non-commercial sources that are not approved by the veterinary staff must be quarantined.
Unconditioned or wild-caught animals or those that are known or suspected of being infected with organisms that do not meet standards established by the IACUC and veterinary staff must be isolated, quarantined, stabilized and undergo health assessment and management procedures.
Stabilized animals meeting established health criteria may be used for research in areas approved by the IACUC.
Animals should not be transferred from room-to-room or building-to-building within the university or any affiliated institution, such as Emory West, Wesley Woods, Yerkes, or the VA Medical Center, without the knowledge and consent of the attending veterinarian.
Rodents
Background. Numerous infectious agents are known to cause disease and insidiously interfere with research in laboratory rodents. It is the policy and practice of the animal resources programs and IACUC to maintain research colonies free of such pathogens. While there are numerous potential routes for the entry of pathogens into research rodent colonies, one of the most important conduits remains that of rodents themselves. Of particular importance are rodents obtained from other research institutions or even other buildings or colonies within our research community.
Where rodents are known to be infected or suspected of not meeting health standards established by the veterinary staff and endorsed by the IACUC, they must be quarantined. In such cases, experimental use must be confined to that which can be safely accommodated in the quarantine area. Live rodents may only exit quarantine for necropsy or after the veterinary staff determines the health status to meet established standards.
Quarantined rodents that are infected must either be euthanized or managed in ways to eliminate infection before release from quarantine.
Rodents in quarantine that reliable information suggests are free of pathogens may be released to laboratories for terminal studies only with the consent of DAR. Specific personnel involved must be given documented BSL2 orientation and training and the PI must agree to abide by such management standards.
How to Acquire Animals for Your Research
Ordering Animals
All animals purchased for use in research at Emory DAR must be ordered from our list of approved vendors. As a rule, animal deliveries occur every Monday & Tuesday (with the exception of University holidays).
Managed Breeding Services
The Managed Breeding Service (or "MBS", sometimes also referred to as "Colony") is a fee-for-service elective enterprise offered by DAR to the Emory research community. Through this, DAR maintains and manages colonies of research mice for the investigators.
Import/Export of Animals
Animals may be imported to DAR from other universities and organizations using one of the four options: 1) Sperm rederivation via IVF; 2) Embryo rederivation; 3) Acute Studies ("Quarantine Lite"); and, 4) Traditional Quarantine.
Weaning By Lab
Researchers have the option of breeding within their own colonies and weaning the litters to procure more animals for their studies. Cage cards for weaned animals must be requested from DAR so the animals are properly identified and may be counted during census.
Animal Transfer Between Labs
Animals may be transferred between investigators or between protocols. Animals transferred from a protocol will be deducted from that protocols animal count and added to the receiving protocol. For this reason, DAR requires all transfers be initiated via online form for tracking purposes.
Stabilization Process (All Options)
IMPORTANT: Newly received animals should be given a period for physiologic, behavioral, and nutritional acclimation before their use, regardless of whether the animals are quarantined. Healthy, well-stabilized animals provide reliable and repeatable data.