Rodent Cage Movement Policy

Cages of rodents may not be moved between animal rooms without submission of the Animal Movement Proposal Form and approval. This is not a new policy.

Health Status of Rodent Rooms

In an effort to protect the health status of valuable research mice, the Animal Resource recognizes certain parts of the UR vivaria to be “protected zones”.  That is, they are areas that afford the most protection to rodent colonies.  After the foundation colonies, the protected zones are the KMRB, SMD S wing, 6-6950 suite and CVRI one-way zone.  Mice may be moved from one of these protected zones to another after being tested for ecto- and endoparasites.  The investigator owning the rodents is responsible for the cost of these tests.  Mice housed in one-way MIT rooms outside of the protected zones are considered to be of lower health status, and cannot move to one of the protected zones without first undergoing quarantine.

To facilitate movement of your mice within the protected zones, please write down cage locations when you submit a move form.  This will allow the DLAM techs to perform parasite testing promptly.

Movement within KMRB and within S-Wing Basement ONE WAY Facilities

Once the move form proposal is approved after considering animal health and space issues, only the Vivarium staff may move the cages of mice to the new room. You will be notified by the Vivarium office when the move will occur.

Movement from KMRB or S-Wing Basement ONE WAY Facility to any other Rooms

Once the move form is approved after considering animal health and space issues, the vivarium office will notify you that you have permission to move the cage of rodents

Movement from any Vivarium Room to the Lab

Cages of rodents may be moved to the lab for UCAR approved procedures. Rodents may not be present in the lab for greater than 24 hours. Rodents coming from rodent rooms with 2-Way traffic patterns may be taken back and forth from the lab.

The purpose of this restriction on movement of rodent cages is to prevent unapproved or inadvertent movement of cages of rodents by research staff from less strict barrier maintained zones (e.g., 2 Way zones) to stricter barrier maintained zones (e.g., One Way Zones).