The Animal Shipping Office handles requests for transport of rodents to and from non-commercial sources. These sources consist of other academic institutions or private research colonies maintained by commercial vendors.
Rodent Domestic/International Importation (Receiving) Instructions
Rodent Domestic / International Exportation (Shipping) Instructions
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Rodent Domestic/International Importation (Receiving) Instructions
The Animal Shipping Office (214-648-1835) handles transport of rodents to and from non-commercial sources. These sources consist of other academic institutions or private research colonies maintained by commercial vendors. To import rodents from a non-commercial source, please follow the instructions below.
1. Submit a completed packet of information, which includes:
(a) The Rodent Import Form (available on the ARC website), which describes the animals to be received, collaborator contact information, and the location of where the animals will be housed upon arrival; and
(b) A current Animal Health Statement from sending institution. The UT Southwestern investigator must provide the sending institution's animal facility contact information to obtain the Animal Health Statement if this information is not sent directly with the Rodent Import Form.
The current Animal Health Statement needs to meet the following criteria:
health information is generated from the sentinel mice or experimental mice housed in the same room as the mice to be shipped; and
health information is current, i.e., within 90 days or one year upon receipt (see below); and
for mice, the health information must include status within 90 days of MHV, Sendai virus, MPV, EDIM, MVM, PVM, GD-7, reo-3 virus, Mycoplasma pulmonis, pinworms, and fur mites; and within one year of LCMV, ECTRO, MAV, K and Polyoma.
For rats, the health information must include the status within 90 days of SDAV, Sendai virus, KRV, H-1, PVM, RPV, reo-3, Mycoplasma pulmonis, pinworms, and fur mites.
2. This completed packet of information can be delivered to the Animal Shipping Office through the ARC Main Office located at NB2.346, via inter-campus mail at MC 9037, or by fax to 214-648-1834.
3. The Animal Transport Coordinator will ensure information is complete, obtain any additional information (e.g. health from sending institution, if not included in the packet), then send PI or designee a “tracking number ” to identify this transfer. This number will be used in all correspondence regarding the transfer.
4. The Animal Transport Coordinator will present complete packet of information to the ARC Staff Veterinarian for review.
5. If the ARC Staff Veterinarian approves the shipment, notifications will be sent to the shipping institution and to the UT Southwestern PI or his/her designee.
6. The UT Southwestern PI or designee will be notified by an Animal Transport Coordinator upon the arrival of the animals to campus.
7. All animals headed to conventional North Campus or South Campus housing require a quarantine period upon arrival to UT Southwestern.During quarantine, rodents will be placed on a Fenbendazole (150 PPM) rodent diet for a minimum of five weeks for pinworm control. Similarly, rodents will be treated with Mite Arrest (7% permethrin) for a minimum of five weeks for fur mite control. (Any exceptions to this policy must be made in advance by the ARC Attending Veterinarian .).
8. Mice to be housed in the NG animal facility initially are housed in the NA quarantine room on arrival, and tested for fur mites, pinworm, and MPV by fecal PCR. If all mice are negative for fur mites, pinworm, and MPV, mice are then set up with sentinel mice in NG quarantine. Upon completion of five weekly exposures to soiled bedding from incoming mice, sentinel mice are tested for antibodies to MHV, Sendai virus, MPV, EDIM, MVM, PVM, GD-7, reo-3 virus, Mycoplasma pulmonis,LCMV, ECTRO, MAV, K-virus, and Polyoma virus; and tested for pinworms, and fur mites.
9. Mice to be housed in animal facilities other than NG facility are housed in the NA quarantine room on arrival, tested for fur mites and pinworm, and set up with sentinel mice. Upon completion of five weekly exposures to soiled bedding from incoming mice, sentinel mice are tested for antibodies to MHV, Sendai virus, MPV, EDIM, MVM, PVM, GD-7, reo-3 virus, Mycoplasma pulmonis, LCMV, ECTRO, MAV, K-virus, and Polyoma virus; and tested for pinworms, and fur mites.
Rodent Domestic / International Exportation (Shipping) Instructions
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
The Animal Shipping Office (214-648-1835) handles transport of rodents to and from non-commercial sources. These sources consist of other academic institutions or private research colonies maintained by commercial vendors.
1. The UTSW investigator must submit a completed packet of information , which includes:
The Rodent Export Form (available on the ARC website) which describes the
animals to be shipped, PI information, recipient contact information, and also indicates the location and identification of animals for examination (international shipments) by the ARC Veterinarian.
A Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA) or memo from the Contracts Management Office verifying the non-necessity of an MTA must be included.
Any special government importation documents required by the recipient institution.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification, specific treatments, and/or additional testing of animals for shipment may be required for certain shipments. This can be obtained through UTSW ARC for a fee. Please be prepared, in advance, to provide payment through check or money order for USDA certification.
This completed packet of information can be delivered to the Shipping Office through the ARC Main Office located on NB2.346, via inter-campus mail at MC9037, or by fax to 214-648-1834.
The Animal Transport Coordinator will ensure information is complete, obtain any additional information (if not included), then send PI or designee a “tracking number” to identify this transfer. This number will be used in all correspondence regarding the transfer.
The Animal Transport Coordinator will present the complete packet of information to the ARC Veterinarian to review. If the transfer is an international shipment, the ARC Veterinarian will examine the animals to be shipped. A Health statement will be generated and sent to the Animal Resources Center at the receiving institution.
Animals will be shipped when written approval is received by the receiving institution.
We most often ship animals via World Courier, Airnet, or Marken Time Critical (International shipments). Shipments depart on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesdays of a normal work week. Sometimes shipment through alternate carriers can be worked out, as well as particular details regarding which end is to pay shipping costs. In the event that payment by consignee cannot be arranged, the UTSW PI will need to pay any charges incurred, and arrange for reimbursement from their collaborator.
The Shipping Coordinator will notify you when your shipment has been approved. Packing materials can be obtained through the ARC Area Supervisor. Mice in NA and NB need to be placed on the shelf near NB Freight elevator. Mice from NC need to be placed on the shelf at NC Freight elevator. Mice from NG need to be placed on the shelf at NG receiving area. Mice from South Campus need to be placed on J1 receiving shelf by K dock All mice destined for shipment need to be placed at the respective locations by 10:00 a.m. of the day of departure from UTSW.
