Taconic is committed to ensuring that investigators can access the rodent models they need at precisely the health standard their research projects demand. Most of our traditional inbred, outbred and hybrid mice and rats have been raised at the Murine Pathogen Free™ health status historically. Yet, as the use of genetically modified models increases, we recognize that traditional models used for backcrossing, sentinels, foster dams and other functions will require a more restricted health status.
In response, Taconic is now raising more traditional animals at the Restricted Flora™ health status. We already offer multiple lines in limited quantities at the RF health status, including B6, 129SvEv, DBA/1, FVB and SW. Going forward, we will introduce more RF lines, converting them through new barrier start-ups, barrier recycling, and the test-and-cull process.
Details on Health Standards for all commercially available models offered by Taconic.
For a complete list of the Health Standards for each Animal Strain
Read more about Taconic's RF Health Standard (PDF 105KB).
Taconic health testing assures that all models designated at the RF status meet those stringent requirements. In addition to routine IHMS testing, we perform monthly microbiological testing to monitor for agents not permitted at the RF status - increasing the odds of detecting those agents sooner than we could with standard testing.
For a more indepth description of the RF testing and currect RF barrier results
In the unlikely event that our monitoring detects an agent not permitted at a particular health status, Taconic adheres to a policy of rapid action and notification. We suspend all shipments from the barrier immediately, identify all shipments originating from that location from the previous negative test period or six weeks prior, and notify affected customers by phone and e-mail. We also share this information with all customers by posting a notification on our web site.
