Rodent Health Monitoring (RHM) Program

Importing Rodents & Germplasm from Non-commercial Sources

General Information

Importing animals from non-commercial sources requires special attention and will take longer than ordering from an OCV-approved vendor of specific pathogen-free animals.

  • Domestic sources take 2-4 weeks for processing and approval
  • Foreign sources may take 2-8 weeks

Importing germplasm (oocytes, embryos, spermatozoa, and ovaries) from non-commercial sources requires veterinary approval.

To initiate an import request for either live animal or germplasm, please complete all applicable fields of the Animal Order, Import, Export Request Form. Expand the section below for a list of information you will need to complete the form.

  • Name and contact information for the Principle Investigator (PI)
  • ASAF number (the ASAF must be approved prior to acquiring animals)
  • Workday budget number
  • Name and e-mail of department fiscal contact
  • A Material Transfer Agreement (signed or pending; contact ORSO)
  • Who will pay associated costs (shipping, quarantine, health certificate)
  • Animal information (species, strain, number of females and males)
  • Desired housing facility
  • Any special housing requests/instructions
  • Information for non-commercial source
    • Name of institution/company
    • Name and contact information for PI
    • Name and contact information for shipping coordinator or facility veterinarian

Overview of the Animal Import Process

  1. Animal Order, Import, Export Request Form is received
  2. PI contacts ORSO to initiate or verify any associated Material Transfer Agreements (MTA)
  3. PI contacts Animal Welfare Program (AWP) to initiate or verify any Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)
  4. OCV requests last 12 months of health records from animal source and communicates with AWP and ORSO to verify:
    1. IACUC approval
    2. MTA established, if needed
    3. MOU established, if needed
  5. OCV reviews health records and works with facility manager and PI to develop a plan for quarantine, testing, treatment and housing
  6. After all approvals are in place, shipping authorization is sent to animal source
  7. Shipping is coordinated between the animal source and WSU facility manager
  8. Animals arrive and undergo quarantine & testing

Quarantine

All imported rodents from non-commercial sources in quarantine, will be treated for external and internal parasites (Selamectin, fipronil and fenbendazole) upon arrival. Samples for quarantine testing will be collected at a minimum of 14 days after arrival. Estimated time in quarantine will vary, minimum will be 3 weeks. Release from quarantine will be by a Campus Veterinarian based on quarantine results. The table below lists current fees for these services.

Rodent Quarantine Services 2026Fee
Health Testing, Mice, per 10 animals$227.83
Health Testing, Rats, per 10 animals$212.68
Additional Health Testing, Rats, per animal$8.48
Treatment (selamectin and fipronil), per 10 animals$27.87
Rodent Quarantine Housing Per DiemView PDF

All costs associated with testing, treatment or rederivation of the incoming animals will be the responsibility of the investigator. OCV will pay for the testing up front and bill the investigator for the costs via IRI. Rederivation billing will be handled directly with the Animal Production Core.

For more information about importing rodents, please contact ocv.animal.shipping@wsu.edu.

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