LARC Rodent Program

Rodent Shipment

• Importing Rodents to UCSF



• Exporting Rodents from UCSF

IMPORTING RODENTS

Importing Rodents to UCSF From Approved Vendors

If you are acquiring animals from an Approved Vendor, you should follow the LARC Acquisition Policy And Procedures.

• Approved Vendors are typically commercial vendors such as Taconic, Jackson Labs, Harlan, etc.

• If you have a question as to whether your source is an Approved Vendor, you may contact the LARC Business Office at: larcpurchasing@UCSF.edu before placing your order.

Importing Rodents to UCSF From Sources Other Than Approved Vendors

SUMMARY OF IMPORT PROCEDURE (details are provided below)

1. Download and complete Request to Ship Animals To and From UCSF and Obtain Health Reports (form #2101).
1. You will need information from the outside (shipping) institution to complete Section 2


2. Submit the form to the LARC business office.


1. Make sure that YOU submit the form, we cannot accept forms submitted by outside (shipping) institutions
2. Incomplete forms cannot be processed


3. LARC business office will contact the outside (shipping) institution to request appropriate health reports.



4. LARC veterinary staff reviews health reports and determines acceptance.



5. Accepted animals undergo a period of Incoming Rodent Quarantine
   (7-9 weeks).
1. At the end of quarantine, animals are delivered to the barrier indicated on Form 2101


6. Animals from infected colonies may be accepted for rederivation only.
1. The UCSF importing lab must make arrangements for rederivation


7. Some animals may not be acceptable, UCSF lab will be notified.

All requests are handled in the order in which they are received; please plan your imports accordingly.

Rodents from sources that are not Approved Vendors must undergo a period of quarantine and testing before being admitted to UCSF barriers.

• The current period of Incoming Rodent Quarantine is 7 to 9 weeks.



• Breeding and experimental manipulations are not permitted during quarantine.



• Please plan your imports accordingly.



• Click here for details on the program of Incoming Rodent Quarantine.

PROCEDURE FOR IMPORTING RODENTS TO UCSF

You must have an IACUC approved protocol under which these animals will be studied.

• Contact the IACUC office if you need to modify the species, strain or number of animals that will be used on your protocol (iacuc@ucsf.edu).

You must have previously approved space for housing the rodents.

• The number of animals that you receive must be within the space allocated to you by the Associate Vice Chancellor’s office.

Complete the Request to Ship Animals To and From UCSF and Obtain Health Reports

• Please indicate at the top of this form that this is an import.



• Make sure the form is filled out completely: any missing information may delay processing.



• The shipping institution should provide you with the information requested in Section 2.
  • Ask the receiving institution if they have any special requirements or tests requested. Indicate these requests on the form, in Section 4
  • PLEASE DO NOT HAVE THE OUTSIDE (SHIPPING) INSTITUTION SUBMIT THE FORM TO LARC. THEY SHOULD RETURN IT TO THE UCSF LAB, WHICH SHOULD REVIEW AND THEN SUBMIT. WE CANNOT ACCEPT FORMS SUBMITTED BY OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONS


• The completed form should be emailed by the UCSF lab to: larcpurchasing@ucsf.edu.

The business office will contact the outside (shipping) institution and request appropriate health reports and documentation.

• On occasion, the outside (shipping) institution may not furnish the requested information, or further clarification may be requested by UCSF. Please note that this may delay processing.

The health reports will be reviewed by a LARC veterinarian for appropriate disposition:

• Approved animals will be allowed to enter UCSF after appropriate period of Incoming Rodent Quarantine.
  • At the end of the quarantine period (7-9 weeks) the animals are delivered to the UCSF barrier indicated on Form # 2101


• Animals from infected colonies may be accepted for rederivation only.



• The UCSF importing lab must make arrangements for rederivation. See Mouse Strain Rederivation By Embryo Transfer.



• Some animals may not be acceptable for import, UCSF lab will be notified.



• ONLY LARC VETERINARIANS & THE BUSINESS OFFICE CAN APPROVE SHIPMENTS. ANIMALS THAT ARRIVE WITHOUT APPROVAL CANNOT BE ACCEPTED, CANNOT BE RETURNED AND MAY HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED.

EXPORTING RODENTS FROM UCSF TO DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

SUMMARY OF EXPORT PROCEDURE (details are provided below)

1. Download and complete Request to Ship Animals To and From UCSF and Obtain Health Reports (form #2101).
1. The receiving institution will need to provide information to you so that you can complete Section 2


2. Submit the form to the LARC rodent shipment office.
1. Make sure that YOU submit the form, we cannot accept forms submitted by outside institutions


2. Incomplete forms cannot be processed


3. LARC rodent shipment office will contact the receiving institution to provide them with appropriate health reports.
1. Some receiving institutions will require additional testing



2. The UCSF lab must approve the additional testing



3. LARC rodent shipment will coordinate the testing and recharge the UCSF lab



4. LARC rodent shipment will report results to the receiving institution


4. When the receiving institution has approved the shipment LARC rodent shipment will notify the UCSF lab.



5. The UCSF lab will contact the LARC business office to arrange for shipping boxes and courier service.



6. The UCSF lab places the animals in the shipping boxes and delivers them to the loading dock for pick up.

All requests are handled in the order in which they are received.

Processing of an uncomplicated request may take up to 7 to 10 working days.

• International exports usually require paperwork and authorizations from outside UCSF (i.e., authorization from a State or Federal-USDA official). This will involve additional time.

Please plan your exports accordingly.

RODENTS MUST NEVER BE EXPORTED FROM UCSF WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM THE RECEIVING INSTITUTION.

PROCEDURE FOR EXPORTING RODENTS FROM UCSF

Complete the Request to Ship Animals To and From UCSF and Obtain Health Reports

• Please indicate that this an export.



• Make sure the form is filled out completely: any missing information will delay processing.



• The receiving institution should provide you with the information requested in Section 2.



• Ask the receiving institution if they have any special requirements or tests requested. Indicate these requests on the form, in Section 4.

The completed form should be emailed to: RodentShip@larc.ucsf.edu

After receipt of a properly completed request, the Rodent Shipment team will contact the receiving institution to inform them of the proposed export from UCSF.

The Rodent Shipment team will provide the receiving institution with a description of the UCSF colony and health report from the UCSF facility from which the mice are to be shipped.

Some receiving institutions will request additional information.

• The rodent shipment team will provide this information, if it is available.



• If additional testing is requested, the UCSF lab exporting the mice must approve the tests, and will be recharged for testing fees, technician time, and sample shipping costs.



• Rodent Shipment will coordinate these tests

When approval from the receiving institution has been received, Rodent Shipment will notify the UCSF lab.

• The UCSF lab is responsible for the actual packing and shipment of the mice.



• Contact the LARC business office (476-2204) to order shipping boxes. The cost of the containers will be recharged to the shipping lab.

Contact the LARC business office (476-2204) to receive information about couriers.

• The receiving Institution may indicate a preference for a courier.



• The cost of shipping will be recharged to the shipping lab, unless the receiving institution has provided you with payment information from their end in advance.

Special Notes Regarding International Shipments

• Upon initial contact, ask the receiving institution if there are any “special requirements” of which they are aware. Indicate them on the request form.



• You must provide any additional forms that are produced and required by foreign countries.



• Most couriers will coordinate State or Federal (USDA) approvals; contact the courier early in the export process to coordinate timing.



• Some countries require direct inspection of the animals by a veterinarian. Rodent Shipment will coordinate this exam, but scheduling may affect the timing of your shipment. Please plan accordingly.



• Paperwork and documents for International shipments should be picked up in a timely fashion from the LARC office in PSB 394. Rodent Shipment will inform you when they are ready.