Import and Quarantine of Rodents from Non-Commercial Vendors

Ordering animals into quarantine

Ohio State principal investigator (PI)

• Animal orders must be placed in the e-Protocol system.
• Before beginning the animal order, collect the following details from the shipping institution:
  • Institution, vendor, or program
  • Primary contact, with email and phone number
  • Exporting investigator
  • Shipping contact name, with email and phone number
• Provide the following Ohio State contact information to the exporting institution or coordinator:
  • Veterinarian, Carrie Freed, ULARImportExport@osu.edu, 614-292-7319
  • Import-Export Coordinator, Angie Summers, ULARImportExport@osu.edu, 614-292-0369
• Select Other as the vendor.
• The origin of the mice must be noted as the vendor, for example Cyagen, Gempharm, University of x, and so on.
• If you plan to have the mice screened before they arrive at Ohio State (for example, Taconic Tru-Import), note that in the comments, but do not list Taconic as your vendor.
• Following department fiscal approval, the order will move into QA review.
• Any special food, water, or other husbandry requirements must be outlined in the animal use protocol and added in the Additional Comments portion of the eProtocol order.

Process for QA review

• The Import-Export Coordinator (animaltransport@osu.edu) will contact the shipping institution and request a health and facility report for veterinary review.
• Further testing may be required before the animals are approved for shipment to Ohio State, and requires approval from the Ohio State PI.
• Once the health report has been approved by the Ohio State veterinarian:
  • The shipping institution will receive health report approval by email.
  • QA and vivarium approval will be granted in eProtocol.
  • The order then moves to Animal Purchasing for final approval (OR-animalpurchasing@osu.edu).

Animal purchasing and delivery

• Animal Purchasing issues the PO. This step may take three to four days, as the order and PO require approval by the cost center manager in Workday.
• Once approved, the receiving PI and shipping institution will receive an approval to ship email, which will include:
  • The delivery address and courier details (Ohio State account information).
  • The quarantine facility accepts deliveries between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
• The final shipping details must be confirmed by email (ULARImportExport@osu.edu).

Quarantine expectations

Notification will be sent to the Ohio State research team when animals arrive at the Ohio State quarantine facility.

Information on facility, husbandry, and testing

• All mice are maintained in a sterile cage with a standard set up (corn-cob bedding and a cotton nestlet) and are manipulated in a biosafety cabinet.
• Food and water:
  • Quarantine diet: Mice are fed a fenbendazole diet for the quarantine timeframe, finishing the remaining medicated diet in their final ULAR vivarium destination.
  • Quarantine water: Mice are provided reverse osmosis, acidified, or chlorine-treated water in an aquapouch or water bottle.
  • Special water or food requirements must be approved on the IACUC protocol and clearly listed in the animal order so arrangements can be made in advance. The Ohio State PI must provide special diet or water.
• All mice will be caged as they are shipped, unless there is a health issue requiring separation.
• Breeding may be set up by the import coordinator on request, at week 2, for animals within the quarantine group.
  • More complicated breeding (requiring verification of ID) must be set up by the investigator.
  • Shipping animals to quarantine specifically for breeding purposes requires justification and approval from the QA Director.
• Daily observations and health issues are under the care of the Laboratory Animal Health Technician (LAHT) and veterinarian for the facility.
• Quarantine will last three to four weeks, using PCR rodent infectious agent (PRIA) testing on samples collected directly from the colony animals. For larger groups, other methods may be considered, which require a longer quarantine period.
• The import coordinator will facilitate the cage transfer out of quarantine.
  • The investigator will be notified once the mice have cleared quarantine and are being transferred to their final ULAR housing destination.
• The cost of the quarantine testing will be charged to the investigator's account directly.
• While animals are in quarantine:
  • Research teams will not have access to animals while they are in quarantine.
  • Research activity and projects are not authorized in the quarantine facility.
  • Procedures that may be allowed in quarantine, if approved on the IACUC protocol and by the QA Director, include sampling for genotyping, ear notching, tagging, or tattooing.
    • Contact ULARImportExport@osu.edu for approval and to arrange access to animals.
    • QA staff will arrange time (Monday through Friday only) and provide oversight of the team at all times while in quarantine.
    • Due to health status (known and unknown) in quarantine, personnel must visit quarantine at the end of the day and cannot travel to any other animal housing or use space on campus.
    • A shower is required before returning to an animal housing or use space the following day.

Article ID: 135
Created: May 21, 2026
Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Online URL: https://ohiostateresearch.knowledgebase.co/article/import-and-quarantine-of-rodents-from-non-commercial-vendors-135.html