All rodents shipped to the U-M from non-approved vendors and/or other institutions must be quarantined for approximately three weeks to avoid the possible introduction of infectious agents to the University’s rodent colonies. Animals in quarantine are tested for viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents.

If animals test positive for rodent viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections while in quarantine, they must be treated for the infection and, if appropriate, re-derived by embryo transfer via the Transgenic Animal Model Core or used in non-survival experiments. The same is true for rodents that are known to be positive at the time of shipment to U-M. Accordingly, ULAM Veterinary Staff strongly discourages investigators from acquiring research animals with known rodent viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections.

Investigators are responsible for paying all quarantine-associated costs, including technician time, laboratory testing, and per-diems. Once the animals are released from quarantine, ULAM will transfer them to the appropriate animal housing room.

Study teams who wish to have animals shipped to the University of Michigan from other institutions or non-commercial (approved) vendors should contact the ULAM Rodent Health Surveillance Team at ulam-rhst@umich.edu(link sends e-mail) or (734) 936-1699 at least two weeks in advance of desired delivery date.