NOTICE:
Effective 10/27/25, we will be requiring pre-transfer pathogen testing for animals leaving suites with quarantines in MRB or Ross 3/5 that are going to be housed in other central facilities, such as SPH, Wilmer Woods, and buildings at the Homewood campus.
This effort is to protect the biosecurity of our vivaria and is hopefully a temporary measure.
For example, if 12G is under quarantine, animals that are housed in 12A would require pre-transfer testing before transfer to Wilmer Woods for housing.
– Transfer testing will not be required from MRB to Ross.
– Transfer testing will not apply to animals going to lab spaces for terminal procedures.
For all transfers scheduled to occur after 10/27/25, labs must provide at least 3 weeks’ notice ahead of the transfer, to include time to collect pre-transfer testing if needed. This means that the Animal Transfer Form MUST be submitted at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled transfer. Cages must be marked by the lab. RAR staff will collect and submit samples for testing. Results take up to 2 weeks to come back from the lab.
We understand that this additional requirement increases the burden on the scheduling of experimental work, and we thank you for abiding by these procedures to enhance our biosecurity practices. While we cannot accelerate testing time, RAR will cover the costs associated with pre-transfer testing for animals leaving MRB for outlying areas. By 11/30/25, we will reassess the need for this testing and cost coverage.
You must submit a transfer request before your animals can be moved between JHU Animal Facilities.
Internal Rodent Transfer Procedure
- Submit a transfer request form.
- Collect the transfer cage cards from Ross 459 and place them on the cages to be moved.
- The Animal Resources office will schedule the transfer with the supervisor and the loading dock, as applicable
- The Animal Resources office will notify you of the moving date and the final location.
Animal Movement Between Imaging and Behavioral Procedures
- If you are transferring rodents for imaging or behavioral procedures, you must also complete the decontamination form, which needs to be signed by the lab AND authorized imaging personnel.
Animal Movement Between Quarantined Spaces and Decontamination Protocols
- For transfers involving quarantined rooms, please use the Outbreak Management Exemption: Animal Movement Request Form.
- If you have received an approval from a veterinarian to move animals between quarantined spaces, you will be asked to return the following Decontamination Form to the vet team:
RAR will review the request before the transfer is approved.
Rodent Transfer Restrictions
- Helicobacter-positive may not move to Helicobacter-negative space.
- High Risk Return animals may not move back to regular animal rooms. High Risk Return animals from other facilities may not move to MRB high-risk return housing without additional testing.
- All animals entering MRB must be transferred by RAR personnel through the airlock. There is a special exception for overnight mating for the transgenic core.
- Animals leaving MRB for use in laboratories or in equipment outside MRB may not return to MRB. Limited exceptions can be granted with prior authorization from an RAR veterinarian – submit an animal transfer request form or email [email protected] to discuss.
- Animals leaving MRB for use in laboratories or in equipment outside MRB may be housed in Ross 3 provided there is no overnight housing outside the facility.
- Animals housed in laboratories overnight may not move back to core facilities, including High Risk Return.
* Please note that a 72-hour notice is required for all transfers, and transfer requests may take up to a week to process.
* For all transfers scheduled to occur after 10/27/25, labs must provide at least 3 weeks notice ahead the transfer, to include time to collect pre-transfer testing if needed.