Feed remains fresh for 6 months, and NIA only will provide a 3-month supply at a time.
On request, Harlan can calculate the feed supply amount necessary for the animals. All requests for calculations must be included in the "Special Instructions" section on the NIA order form. Specify the selected feed type used to maintain the animals, quantity of animals, strain, gender, date of birth (DOB), and the length of time the animals will be maintained.
NIH Fortified | $10.00 per kg |
---|---|
NIH 31 | $2.00 per kg |
Freight | $12.00 flat rate |
Weeks | Amount |
---|---|
13 | 100% (regular feed) |
14 | *90% (fortified) |
15 | 75% |
16+ | 60% |
*CR begins at 4 months of age.
The maximum age for shipping F344 rats overseas is 26 months. The maximum age for shipping F344 x BN rats overseas is 36 months. There is a 2- to 3-week turnaround time from order placement to delivery.
Animals are packed one age group per crate.
Animal Type | Number per Crate |
---|---|
Rats | 6 |
Mice | 20 |
BALB/c Mice | 5 (compartmentalized) |
C57BL/6 animals are always shipped as cagemates. Other strains are not shipped as cagemates, unless specifically requested by customer on the NIA order form.
All air deliveries are shipped on Monday for Tuesday/Wednesday delivery. Animals must originate from the same barrier; barriers cannot be split.
Both the water kit and gel pack are safe and effective. However:
When using NIA transport trucks, Harlan is responsible for passing animals through customs. If the animals are delivered via air transport, the customer must have his or her own customs broker to pass the animals through customs.
The health of the barriers vary; some barriers have Helicobacter rodentium, Helicobacter hepaticus, both, or neither.
Helicobacter-free rodents include the following:
Tumors are considered normal in rodents aged 16 months and older.
There is a 2- to 3-week turnaround time from order placement to delivery for orders involving surgery.
Regarding age and reproductive function, F344 males and females reach their sexual maturity at approximately 7 weeks of age.
All mice are of Jackson stock. NIA receives new stock at the beginning of each contract. Animals are rederived and set up specifically for NIA.
For animal replacement, the Office of Biological Resources and Resource Development (OBRRD) must be notified within 48 hours of delivery. OBRRD will provide replacement animals under the following conditions:
Animals will be replaced at the same age as the original order, unless the customer specifically indicates the same DOB.
The vendor, NIA at Harlan Sprague Dawley, is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Animal prices are increased yearly by approximately 4 percent.
NIA grantees may order animals to be delivered to collaborators; however, the animals must be billed to the grantee. If the grantee is ordering animals for delivery to a commercial institution, approval must be obtained via email from Dr. Nancy Nadon of OBRRD.
NIA will not make any shipments when the atmospheric temperature and/or the temperature within the transportation carrier are harmful to the shipment.
SBIR grantees are permitted to order if they are funded by NIA.
Rat Strain | Color |
---|---|
F344 | White Albino |
F344 x BN | *Brownish-Black |
BN | Brown |
*Includes white area on chest and underbelly.
Mouse Strain | Color |
---|---|
BALB/c | White Albino |
C57BL/6 | Intense Black |
CBA | Agouti (brownish-gray) |
DBA | Dilute Brown/Non-Agouti (silvery-light gray) |
B6D2F1 | Black |
CB63F1 | Agouti (brownish-gray) |
CB6F1 | Agouti (brownish-gray) |
Customers are permitted to specify a weight range, but they are not permitted to request a specific weight.
Retired breeders start at 9 months old; these are male F344 rats only.
NIA only can provide dates in a "month/year" format because the contractor weans several litters born in the same week at the same time and randomly assigns them to cages. Animals in the same cage do not have the same actual day of birth. NIA does not require the contractor to record the specific day of birth on the aging cage cards, only the month of birth.
If any animals die, no additional animals are added to their cage. Animals in the CR colonies are individually housed.
Animal | Number per Cage |
---|---|
Rat | 3 |
Mouse | 5 |
Term | Indications |
---|---|
Transgenic | A gene has been added. |
Targeted Mutation | Gene has been changed to inactive. |
Mutation | Gene has been changed. |
To indicate tumor tissue, vials have a red top, and larger vials are marked with a red "dot".
The Vital Statistics Sheet lists all information, including tumors.
Vial Size | Number of Samples | Comments |
---|---|---|
Small | 200 | Most mouse tissue is in small vials. |
Large | 25 | Includes some rat tissue and larger mouse organs. |