Rodent Resources

RAR has partnered with Transnetyx  to provide easy access to outsourced genotyping services via a kiosk located outside the MRB rodent facility. Transnetyx offers set up of the genetic testing plus the first 25 samples at no charge and specializes in difficult to genotype strains.  Please follow the ACUC Guidelines  for procedures to obtain samples for genotyping. Note that only a few mm is required for genotyping, general anesthesia is required for tail biopsies in mice aged >21d, and local anesthetics are recommended for all ages.

RAR maintains a limited number of anesthesia machines (vaporizers) for isoflurane anesthesia to be used in our central facilities (MRB and BSPH). These can be checked out at no cost to labs, as long as they are returned as scheduled. Keeping the machine longer than scheduled may result in a late fee. Oxygen tanks are included in the anesthesia machine rental, but labs are responsible for purchasing their own isoflurane anesthetic liquid and the circuit for the machine.

Anesthesia machines must be reserved by filling out the following form:

Request for anesthesia machine rental or training

A member of RAR will respond to your request as soon as possible.

Please note that training by an RAR veterinary technician is required before the machine can be checked out; please account for the time needed to schedule a training session (up to 2 weeks, depending on veterinary availability) if this is your first time requesting a reservation. Training will include the setup and use of the machine, general safety procedures, and how to break down/purge the machines after use. A training document will also be provided.

Trained users reserving anesthesia machines will be assigned to one of the machines on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made for an AM or PM timeslot each day. AM timeslots run from 8 am-12 pm, and PM timeslots run from 1 pm-4 pm. RAR requests that trained users provide us with a 48 notice of their request to reserve the machines, though reservations can be granted with shorter notice at the discretion of RAR staff.

Procedure for checking out anesthesia machines:

1. Lab staff can pick up the key to their assigned machines on the day/time of their reservation. They must complete the sign-out/sign-in form on the front desk upon picking up the key.
2. RAR provides the machines and oxygen tanks. Lab staff must provide all other supplies (hoses, anesthesia boxes, nose cones, heating pads, isoflurane, etc).
3. Upon completing their use of the machine, it should be returned to the original location in the vivarium and locked back up. Lab staff should record the ending O2 level on the oxygen tank, and provide this on the sign-in form when they return the key to Ross 459. This enables us to keep the anesthesia machines stocked with oxygen.
4. Keys must be returned by 12 pm (for AM reservations) and 4 pm (for PM reservations).
5. Labs may be granted special approval to use the machines outside of the standard timeslots on a case-by-case basis. If returning the key after standard operating hours, the key should be dropped in the lock box located in the main hallway outside of Ross 459.
6. A $50.00 late fee will be charged by RAR for any keys that are not returned as scheduled.

**Note that the MRB High-Barrier Facility located in MRB 17D has its own dedicated machine. This machine must remain in 17D at all times. No other anesthesia machines may be brought into 17D from elsewhere

RAR maintains a limited number of steamers that researchers may rent. More information about steamer rentals is available on our Outbreak Management webpage.

Special Treatments or Procedures (SToP) refers to exemptions to standard husbandry conditions, including delayed weaning, food or water manipulation or restriction,  housing mice on wire-bottom floors, etc. More details can be found in the GP-15 SOP, located on our SOPs and Guidelines webpage.

SToP Requests must be approved by RAR. Once you have fully reviewed the GP-15 SOP, you can access the blank SToP Request form and monitoring sheet files on the RAR Forms webpage, along with the link to the online submission system. Once you submit the pertinent files, you will receive a response within 2 business days with either an Approval, or a Denial with instructions for correction and resubmission.

Potential clinical concerns will be flagged with an orange/red clinical call card and further evaluated by the veterinary team. The clinical call card will then be used to document the nature of the clinical concern and ongoing treatment/monitoring.

Communication and Management of Clinical Cases

At the first identification of a clinical concern, each lab will receive an email from an RAR veterinarian or veterinary technician that summarizes the case information and provides the following options:

• Option 1a: Lab to perform and document recommended treatment
  • If this option is elected, the lab must date and initial every instance of monitoring and/or treatment on the clinical call card. If there is no treatment/documentation, our team will move on to Option 1b at the time of recheck, as necessary to maintain animal welfare.
• Option 1b: RAR to perform the recommended treatment ($40/hour)
• Option 2a: Lab to euthanize by the requested time
  • If this option is elected, the lab must perform the euthanasia themselves. The use of euthanasia tape is not acceptable for animals with clinical concerns.*
• Option 2b: RAR to euthanize by requested time ($40/hour)
  • If this option is elected, the lab must notify the RAR vet tech via an email response and leave the cage in place until euthanasia is performed under direction of an RAR vet tech. The use of euthanasia tape is not acceptable for animals with clinical concerns.*
• Option 3: Discuss other options with RAR, please describe the request

Please reply to the email in a timely manner to select one of the management options or to pursue further discussion with the veterinary team. If our team does not hear from you, the case will be managed with veterinary discretion to prioritize animal welfare.

Removal of Clinical Call Cards

The clinical call card may ONLY be removed from the cage of a live animal by the veterinary staff, once the clinical concern is considered resolved. Improvement/resolution observed by the lab may be communicated to the veterinary staff by email, but the lab must not remove the clinical card until the veterinary team confirms the case is closed.

• If the mouse/rat is being euthanized but other animals remain in the same cage, please write “Euthanized (date)” on the clinical call card but leave the card in place on the cage. Our technicians will close the case in their record and discard the card during their next rounds.
• If all mice/rats in the cage are being euthanized, any associated red/orange cards may be discarded.
• If a new clinical case is flagged by RAR care staff and you plan to euthanize the entire cage before a member of the veterinary team has assessed the animal, we ask that you please do not discard the clinical call card, and instead write “lab euthanized entire cage (date)” on the clinical call card, and tape it on the empty spot in the rack. This facilitates our technicians knowing that a pending case has already been addressed by the lab, rather than searching the rack for a potentially missing call card.