1. Can I purchase animals through the Central Purchasing Department?
No, all purchase requests for research animals must originate through
the Animal Resource Center (ARC) offices (216-368-3490). Any individual
orders will be rejected by Central Purchasing of Case Western Reserve
University or will be referred back to the Animal Resource Center.
This action was taken to comply with various Federal and State laws,
to improve auditing procedures and to assist investigators in obtaining
research animals at reasonable prices from safe, dependable sources.
Central animal purchasing also enables the ARC to maintain its quality
assurance program to identify those suppliers capable of providing
healthy, high quality research animals cost-effectively. Information
on reliable suppliers, viral status of rodents, etc., can be obtained
from 216-368-3490.
2. Who can order animals?
All animal-based research at Case Western Reserve University must
be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
Only investigators with an approved animal protocol will be allowed
to order animals. To assure this, all investigators will be asked
by the ARC to provide the identification number of the approved
protocol (protocol number) at the time they are placing orders for
animals or arranging for housing. Protocol numbers are date and
species coded; investigators must make sure that the protocol number
used is correct for the procedure and species to be used.
3. How many animals can I order?
The number of animals that can be ordered depends upon the availability
of housing space and the number of animals on the approved protocol.
The number of animals purchased will be debited from the total originally
approved number. Once the approved number is reached, no additional
animals can be purchased unless the protocol is amended to request
additional animals and is approved by the IACUC. Housing availability
is determined at the time the order is placed. You will only be
informed if there is a space availability problem.
4. Who can I order animals from?
Animals can only be ordered through our routine ordering process
from the following vendors:
Jackson Laboratory - mice
Charles River Laboratory - mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils
Taconic - mice
Harlan - mice, rats, cats
Covance - rabbits
Marshall Farms - dogs, ferrets
LBL - dogs
Hodgins - dogs
Ken Kessler - pigs
Matthew Joseph - goats
5. What happens if I want to get animals from another source?
If you want to get animals from a nonstandard vendor you will need
to complete a nonstandard vendor form. You can find more information
about receiving animals from nonstandard vendors at Nonstandard
Vendor Import FAQ. You can get a copy of the form on the Forms tab
of this site at Nonstandard Vendor Import Form.
6. How do I order animals?
The procedure for ordering animals has been developed with the
ARC in such a manner as to minimize delay and paperwork for the
investigators.
Your orders will be promptly handled as follows:
1. Fill out a special animal purchase requisition form and bring
it to the ARC offices. Be sure to complete all areas in white on
the form including but not limited to type, source, numbers of animals
requested, account number, room number, and Microisolator status
as well as the protocol number approved by the IACUC. If you do
not know an answer, an ARC representative will assist you in completing
the form. For instructions on how to use the form please refer to
the Virtual Animal Requisition Form.
2. The animal suppliers will normally be called the same day and
arrangements made for delivery as per request, based on the vendor
delivery schedule. Any unusual problems such as inability of the
supplier to meet stated requirements will be transmitted back to
the originator.
3. The animal request form used by ARC consists of three copies,
which are distributed in the following manner:
a. A (blue) copy is retained by the investigator for his/her records
b. A (green) copy is sent to the investigator or designee along
with the month-end charge memo after pricing information has been
added
c. The original (white) remains in the ARC
7. How do I know the animals have arrived?
The animals are delivered to the Medical Institution at the receiving
dock located at the School of Medicine. After arriving, animals
orders are checked for accuracy and health condition and then delivered
to the proper animal facility and animal housing room. Any animals
arriving without an ARC requisition number will not be delivered.
Once animals arrive, a contact person in your laboratory will be
contacted by telephone informing you of the arrival of the animals.
8. How much advance time do I need to plan on?
It is to an investigator's advantage to allow as much time as possible
for vendors to supply his orders. The Animal Resource Center will
make every effort to comply with the requests of the investigator
but cannot be responsible for "last minute" orders that
vendors themselves are unable to satisfy.
In addition, we would encourage all investigators to be certain
of the information they place on their original animal requisition
order form. Changes can be made but with every change comes an additional
opportunity for errors. The ARC staff are available to consult
with investigators on special animal requirements, sources of supply,
prices and animal caging. Please feel free to contact us at 216-368-3490
if you need assistance or if you have questions or feedback.
Revised 5-2007 |
