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Research Administration Office
Laboratory Animal Resource Center

Quarantine

Rodent Quarantine Program BYU Standard Operating Procedures

Purpose:
This document describes Brigham Young University policies and procedures relating to the quarantine of animals to be used in BYU Vivariums. Adherence to these policies and procedures helps maintain the biosecurity of the facility, the health of the rodents, and the quality of the research.

Policies:
All animals must undergo the quarantine process unless they are otherwise approved. This approval is limited to animals that:

  • Are guaranteed specific pathogen free (SPF) by an approved and reputable vendor
  • Were bred within the LSB facility as part of the ORCA breeding colony. These animals are specific pathogen free.

Approved animals that meet one of the above criteria are not required to be quarantined before entering the animal housing area. They may be used for research following a suitable acclimation period (2-7 days). Any animals that do not meet one of the above criteria must undergo the quarantine process.

Quarantine Process and Procedure:

  1. Before unapproved animals are shipped to BYU, the vendor or institution that is sourcing the animals will send health reports on any animal they intend to send to BYU. The University Veterinarian will review the health reports to determine whether or not the shipments will be allowed.
  2. If approved and shipped, the animals will be placed in disposable cages. The transfer of the animals from the shipping container to the micro-isolator cages will be done under a changing station. The cages will be placed in racks in the approved quarantine room, 1107D.
  3. Animals will be kept in quarantine for two to twelve weeks under the direction of the University Veterinarian.
  4. After a four-day acclimation period in quarantine, fecal pellets and fur swabs will be collected from the animals to undergo PCR testing to identify any specific pathogens that are not allowed in the vivariums. This process should take less than two weeks. Investigators are expected to pay for this pathogen testing.
  5. If animals test positive for any excluded pathogens, they may be rederived, fostered, or euthanized upon direction from the University Veterinarian.
  6. If any animals are found dead, the LARC Manager and University Veterinarian must be notified immediately. Record the date the animal was found, the cage coordinates, and any information on the cage card. Keep a copy of this information available. Take a Ziploc bag and use a wet-erase pen to copy this information onto the bag. Place the dead animal in the bag and put the carcass in the refrigerator.

Reporting:
Results of necropsies and pathogen testing shall be generated by the University Veterinarian. Results will be reported to the researchers. The veterinarian will maintain a file of reports and notifications. This will be available in her office.