• Transporting animals within UCSF facilities click here for instructions

Pre-requisites for acquiring animals:

University of California San Francisco Policy:

• All UCSF laboratory animals must be purchased, imported, exported or transferred between UCSF facilities through the EVC&P’s Business Service Center.
• For questions regarding availability of specific species and/or strain, approved vendors and pricing, freight and related costs or other purchasing-related inquiries phone 415.502.3044 (mice), 415.502.5178 (rats and other) or e-mail [email protected].

You must have:

• Active Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval number for the species.
• A purchase billing code tied to funding source: Fund-DeptID-Project-Function or SpeedType. For billing codes email [email protected].
• Previously approved space for housing animals.

Purchasing Animals from Approved Vendors:

• To acquire animals from an approved vendor please submit an Approved Vendor Purchase Request through RIO.
• To acquire rodents from sources other than approved vendors please refer to Importing Rodents to UCSF
• Please refer to the Animal Ordering Schedule Section listed below.
• The EVC&P’s Business Service Center will notify the requester of any issues (e.g. inability of the vendor to fulfill the request) as soon as they are aware of them.
• Requests for animals from local vendors must be submitted a minimum of 2 working days prior to the requested delivery date. See the Animal Ordering Schedule Section in this document for animals requested from non-local vendors. Incomplete forms will be returned unprocessed.
• These animals are appropriate for direct entry to the housing area and will be taken to the space designated for the PI. The receiving person at each site will notify the individual listed on the UCSF LARC Animal Purchase Request form via e-mail of animal arrival and location (e.g. room number and rack) by the close of business time on the arrival date.

Obtaining Animals From Non-approved Vendors:

• Applies to non-approved commercial vendors as well as other institutions providing animals to an investigator at UCSF.
• These animals are subject to quarantine requirements and are handled differently depending on the species.
• Any mouse or rat coming from a non-approved facility must either be rederived, cross-fostered or go through quarantine prior to barrier entry.
• To acquire rodents from sources other than approved vendors please refer to Importing Rodents to UCSF.

Rodent Quarantine Program:

• Rodent Quarantine Programs at UCSF

Changes and Cancellations

Changes and cancellations to existing requests must be directed to the EVC&P’s Business Service Center in writing by 9:00 a.m. of the day before the ship date (not the arrival date). You may e-mail changes to [email protected]. Please note that emergency or rush shipments may incur substantial additional freight costs.

Importing Animals to UCSF: Click here for Rodent Shipping

•  Other Species: Animals from other institutions are subject to additional requirements depending on the species. For specific information call the LARC shipping coordinator at 415-476-8564. Importing Animals from Outside the US: The same requirements as for importing from U.S.-based institutions apply. There may be additional forms, testing, quarantine or shipping requirements depending on species and country of origin.
• E -mail [email protected] for additional information regarding forms, testing or quarantine. Use “Import” in the subject line. Note that the sending facility will be required to arrange for any special shipping or customs requirements prior to shipment. In addition, the UCSF receiving PI is responsible for obtaining any required United States importation permits.

Exporting Animals from UCSF: Click here for Rodent Shipping

• Exportation policies and procedures apply to shipment of animals from a UCSF institution to any non-UCSF institution; U.S.-based or international. Requirements vary by species. The other institution decides whether to accept the shipment. Please e-mail rodentshi[email protected] for specific information. Use “Export” in the subject line.
• LARC will provide a USDA health certificate if one is required; USDA endorsement and any associated express mail fees will be recharged to the department.

Animal Ordering Schedules:

Local Commercial Vendors: orders must be placed at least 48 hours before the desired arrived date. Orders from all vendors are subject to weather and/or airline delays for animals not stocked locally.

Contact the EVC&P’s Business Service Center for information and schedules on ordering sheep and primates.

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