Testing frequency, methodology and sample number is based on an assessment of biosecurity and risk level, and varies depending on whether the location uses static or individually ventilated caging (IVC) or is isolator-raised. Taconic Biosciences is transitioning all RF™, OF™ and EF locations to IVCs. IVCs are more biosecure, but pose some diagnostic challenges, which Taconic addresses through additional testing elements. Taconic has designed a multifaceted testing program in which agents of highest concern are screened using different methodologies to increase the likelihood of accurate and rapid detection.
International Health Monitoring System™
Core testing program
Opportunist screening
IVC PCR testing
IVC exhaust air duct testing
Isolator microbial monitoring
16S bacterial RNA screening
Predominantly sentinel-based health testing comprised of virus detection, full bacteriology, and parasitology. Core testing occurs in ALL Taconic production locations. Agents are typically tested quarterly in gnotobiotic isolators (GF/DF standards) and IVC locations (some RF, OF and EF colonies) or monthly (static cage RF, OF, EF colonies), but this varies by agent. Click for full details on test method and frequency.
Monthly culture-based screening to detect non-tolerated opportunists at the RF, OF and EF standards (aerobic culture). Click for full details on agents tested and test methods.
Additional cage level testing of line animals via PCR in locations using IVC housing. This added screening uses a different test methodology from the core testing program to enhance the overall detectability of key agents and is designed to address the challenge of animal health monitoring in IVCs. Click for full details on agents tested and frequency.
Screening of the exhaust air from IVC cages to provide a snapshot of all cages on a rack. This method is particularly well suited to detection of certain agents. Click for full details on agents tested and frequency.
Culture-based screening to detect bacterial and fungal contamination of gnotobiotic isolators (aerobic and anaerobic culture). Click for full details on test method and frequency.
16S PCR screening in Germ Free isolators to detect bacterial RNA. Testing is performed on pooled fecal samples from each isolator on a monthly basis.
Core testing program
The core testing program is comprised of virus detection, full bacteriology, and parasitology. This testing predominantly uses sentinels, but in locations with immunodeficient animals, line animals may be used for the diagnostic portion of health monitoring (microbiology, molecular biology, and parasitology), with sentinels used for the serological portion.
For all barrier housing units with static caging: Quarterly, Semiannual and Annual core panels test a minimum of 10 animals, and Monthly core panels test a minimum of 5 animals.
For housing units with IVCs: Quarterly, Semiannual and Annual core panels test 1 animal per housing rack side. Additional cage level PCR and exhaust air duct (EAD) testing is performed quarterly in IVC locations. In IVC locations, the three test programs (core testing, IVC PCR and exhaust air duct testing) rotate such that testing for one of the three program elements occurs each month.
Agents
Species Tested
Test Method
EF/OF/RF™/MPF™ Static Cage Frequency
EF/OF Individually Ventilaged Cage Frequency
GF/DF Frequency
Viruses
Kilham
Rat Virus (KRV)
R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Minute
Virus of Mice (MVM)
M
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII)/ Rat Theilovirus (RTV)
M, R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Hepatitis Virus (MHV)
M
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Murine
Norovirus (MNV)
M
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Parvovirus (MPV)
M
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Rotavirus (EDIM)
M
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Pneumonia
Virus (PVM)
M, R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Rat
Coronavirus (RCV)/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Rat
Minute Virus (RMV)
R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Rat
Parvovirus (RPV)
R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Toolan's
H1 Virus (TH1)
R
MFI
Monthly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Ectromelia
Virus
M
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Hantaan
Virus
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
K Virus
M
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis Virus (LCM)
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Adenovirus I and II (FL and K87)
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse
Cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
M
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mouse Kidney Parvovirus (MKPV)
M
PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Polyoma
Virus
M
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Reovirus
(Reo 3)
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Sendai
Virus
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Thymic
Virus
M
IFA
Semiannually
Semiannually
Semiannually
Lactate
Dehydrogenase Elevating Virus (LDHV)
M
MFI
Annually
Annually
Annually
Bacteria,
mycoplasma, fungi
Beta
hemolytic Streptococcus (non Group D)
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Bordetella
bronchiseptica
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Cilia
Associated Respiratory Bacillus (CARB)
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Citrobacter
rodentium
M
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Clostridium
piliforme
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
bovis1
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
kutscheri
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Helicobacter
spp.
M, R
PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Klebsiella
oxytoca
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Klebsiella
pneumoniae
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Mycoplasma
pulmonis
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Pasteurella
multocida
M, R
PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Pasteurella
pneumotropica
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Pneumocystis
spp.
M, R
PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Proteus
spp.
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Salmonella
spp.
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Staphylococcus
aureus
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
M, R
Culture/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB)
M, R
PCR
Annually
Annually
Annually
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
M, R
PCR
Annually
Annually
Annually
Parasites
Endoparasites
M, R
Microscopy/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
↳ Encephalitozoon
cuniculi
M, R
MFI
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Ectoparasites
M, R
Microscopy/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
Enteric Helminths
M, R
Microscopy/PCR
Quarterly
Quarterly
Quarterly
1. Testing not performed in MPF colonies
Opportunist screening
Opportunist screening (RF, OF, EF)
Sample frequency
Source of microbial samples
Number of samples
RF: Aerobic cultures for beta hemolytic Streptococci, K. oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, P. multocida OF: Aerobic cultures for beta hemolytic Streptococci, K. oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, P. multocida, Proteus spp. EF: Aerobic cultures for beta hemolytic Streptococci, K. oxytoca, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, P. multocida, Proteus spp. and PCR screening for Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB)
Monthly
Fecal pellets
For locations with static caging: four random cages per housing rack and all sentinel cages. For locations with individually ventilated cages: 1 column per housing rack and all sentinel cages.
IVC PCR testing
PCR testing is performed on fecal samples collected from line animal cages on IVC racks. 10 line animal cages per rack side are tested on a quarterly basis.
Rat Coronavirus (RCV)/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
R
X
Rat Minute Virus (RMV)
R
X
Rat Parvovirus (RPV)
R
X
Toolan's H1 Virus (TH1)
R
X
Corynebacterium bovis
M,R
X
X
Pasteurella multocida
M,R
X
X
Pasteurella pneumotropica
M,R
X
X
Segmented Filamentous Bacteria
M,R
X
X
Aspiculuris tetraptera
M,R
X
X
Syphacia spp.
M,R
X
X
IVC exhaust air duct testing
PCR testing is performed on total nucleic acids extracted from the exhaust air duct (EAD) filter on each IVC rack. This testing is performed quarterly on each rack.
1. Not all IVC racks are compatible with exhaust air duct (EAD) filters. Where possible, EAD filters will be installed and tested, but some locations will not perform this testing due to the rack-filter incompatibility.
Restricted Flora™ (RF™), Opportunist Free™ (OF™) and Excluded Flora (EF) health standards — static caging locations
Core testing program
Opportunist screening
IVC PCR testing
IVC exhaust air duct testing
Isolator microbial monitoring
16S bacterial RNA screening
Agent
Species tested
Applicable
Applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Viruses
Kilham
Rat Virus (KRV)
R
Monthly
Minute
Virus of Mice (MVM)
M
Monthly
Mouse
Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII)/ Rat Theilovirus (RTV)
M, R
Monthly
Mouse
Hepatitis Virus (MHV)
M
Monthly
Murine
Norovirus (MNV)
M
Monthly
Mouse
Parvovirus (MPV)
M
Monthly
Mouse
Rotavirus (EDIM)
M
Monthly
Pneumonia
Virus(PVM)
M, R
Monthly
Rat
Coronavirus (RCV)/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
R
Monthly
Rat
Minute Virus (RMV)
R
Monthly
Rat
Parvovirus (RPV)
R
Monthly
Toolan's
H1 Virus (TH1)
R
Monthly
Ectromelia
Virus
M
Quarterly
Hantaan
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
K Virus
M
Quarterly
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis Virus (LCM)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Adenovirus I and II (FL and K87)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse Kidney Parvovirus (MKPV)
M
Quarterly
Polyoma
Virus
M
Quarterly
Reovirus
(Reo 3)
M, R
Quarterly
Sendai
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
Thymic
Virus
M
Semiannually
Lactate
Dehydrogenase Elevating Virus (LDHV)
M
Annually
Bacteria,
mycoplasma, fungi
Beta
hemolytic Streptococcus (non Group D)
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Bordetella
bronchiseptica
M, R
Quarterly
Cilia
Associated Respiratory Bacillus (CARB)
M, R
Quarterly
Citrobacter
rodentium
M
Quarterly
Clostridium
piliforme
M, R
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
bovis
M, R
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
kutscheri
M, R
Quarterly
Helicobacter
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Klebsiella
oxytoca
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Klebsiella
pneumoniae
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Mycoplasma
pulmonis
M, R
Quarterly
Pasteurella
multocida
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Pasteurella
pneumotropica
M, R
Quarterly
Pneumocystis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Proteus
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly at OF and EF
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Salmonella
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Staphylococcus
aureus
M, R
Quarterly
Monthly
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
M, R
Quarterly
Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB)
M, R
Annually
Monthly at EF
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
M, R
Annually
Parasites
Aspiculuris
tetraptera
M, R
Quarterly
Eimeria
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Encephalitozoon
cuniculi
M, R
Quarterly
Entamoeba
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Giardia
muris
M, R
Quarterly
Hymenolepis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Myobia
musculi
M, R
Quarterly
Myocoptes
musculinus
M, R
Quarterly
Ornithonyssus
bacoti
M, R
Quarterly
Polyplax
spinulosa
M, R
Quarterly
Psorergates
simplex
M, R
Quarterly
Radfordia
affinis
M, R
Quarterly
Rodentolepis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Spironucleus
muris
M, R
Quarterly
Syphacia
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Trichomonads
M, R
Quarterly
Restricted Flora™ (RF™), Opportunist Free™ (OF™) and Excluded Flora (EF) health standards — individually ventilated caging locations
1. At Taconic's Asian partner facilities, not all IVC racks are compatible with exhaust air duct (EAD) filters. Where possible, EAD filters will be installed and tested, but some Asian partner locations will not perform this testing due to the rack-filter incompatibility.
Defined
Flora (DF) health standard
Core testing program
Opportunist screening
IVC PCR testing
IVC exhaust air duct testing
Isolator microbial monitoring
16S bacterial RNA screening
Agent
Species tested
Applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Applicable
Not applicable
Viruses
Kilham
Rat Virus (KRV)
R
Quarterly
Minute
Virus of Mice (MVM)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII)/ Rat Theilovirus (RTV)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Hepatitis Virus (MHV)
M
Quarterly
Murine
Norovirus (MNV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Parvovirus (MPV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Rotavirus (EDIM)
M
Quarterly
Pneumonia
Virus(PVM)
M, R
Quarterly
Rat
Coronavirus (RCV)/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
R
Quarterly
Rat
Minute Virus (RMV)
R
Quarterly
Rat
Parvovirus (RPV)
R
Quarterly
Toolan's
H1 Virus (TH1)
R
Quarterly
Ectromelia
Virus
M
Quarterly
Hantaan
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
K Virus
M
Quarterly
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis Virus (LCM)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Adenovirus I and II (FL and K87)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse Kidney Parvovirus (MKPV)
M
Quarterly
Polyoma
Virus
M
Quarterly
Reovirus
(Reo 3)
M, R
Quarterly
Sendai
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
Thymic
Virus
M
Semiannually
Lactate
Dehydrogenase Elevating Virus (LDHV)
M
Annually
Bacteria,
mycoplasma, fungi
All bacterial,
mycoplasma, fungal contaminants monitored bi-weekly
Beta
hemolytic Streptococcus (non Group D)
M, R
Quarterly
Bordetella
bronchiseptica
M, R
Quarterly
Cilia
Associated Respiratory Bacillus (CARB)
M, R
Quarterly
Citrobacter
rodentium
M
Quarterly
Clostridium
piliforme
M, R
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
bovis
M, R
Quarterly
Corynebacterium
kutscheri
M, R
Quarterly
Helicobacter
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Klebsiella
oxytoca
M, R
Quarterly
Klebsiella
pneumoniae
M, R
Quarterly
Mycoplasma
pulmonis
M, R
Quarterly
Pasteurella
multocida
M, R
Quarterly
Pasteurella
pneumotropica
M, R
Quarterly
Pneumocystis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Proteus
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
M, R
Quarterly
Salmonella
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Staphylococcus
aureus
M, R
Quarterly
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
M, R
Quarterly
Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB)
M, R
Annually
Streptobacillus
moniliformis
M, R
Annually
Parasites
Aspiculuris
tetraptera
M, R
Quarterly
Eimeria
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Encephalitozoon
cuniculi
M, R
Quarterly
Entamoeba
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Giardia
muris
M, R
Quarterly
Hymenolepis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Myobia
musculi
M, R
Quarterly
Myocoptes
musculinus
M, R
Quarterly
Ornithonyssus
bacoti
M, R
Quarterly
Polyplax
spinulosa
M, R
Quarterly
Psorergates
simplex
M, R
Quarterly
Radfordia
affinis
M, R
Quarterly
Rodentolepis
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Spironucleus
muris
M, R
Quarterly
Syphacia
spp.
M, R
Quarterly
Trichomonads
M, R
Quarterly
Germ Free (GF) health standard
Core testing program
Opportunist screening
IVC PCR testing
IVC exhaust air duct testing
Isolator microbial monitoring
16S bacterial RNA screening
Agent
Species tested
Applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Applicable
Applicable
Viruses
Kilham
Rat Virus (KRV)
R
Quarterly
Minute
Virus of Mice (MVM)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII)/ Rat Theilovirus (RTV)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Hepatitis Virus (MHV)
M
Quarterly
Murine
Norovirus (MNV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Parvovirus (MPV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse
Rotavirus (EDIM)
M
Quarterly
Pneumonia
Virus(PVM)
M, R
Quarterly
Rat
Coronavirus (RCV)/Sialodacryoadenitis Virus (SDAV)
R
Quarterly
Rat
Minute Virus (RMV)
R
Quarterly
Rat
Parvovirus (RPV)
R
Quarterly
Toolan's
H1 Virus (TH1)
R
Quarterly
Ectromelia
Virus
M
Quarterly
Hantaan
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
K Virus
M
Quarterly
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis Virus (LCM)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Adenovirus I and II (FL and K87)
M, R
Quarterly
Mouse
Cytomegalovirus (MCMV)
M
Quarterly
Mouse Kidney Parvovirus (MKPV)
M
Quarterly
Polyoma
Virus
M
Quarterly
Reovirus
(Reo 3)
M, R
Quarterly
Sendai
Virus
M, R
Quarterly
Thymic
Virus
M
Semiannually
Lactate
Dehydrogenase Elevating Virus (LDHV)
M
Annually
Bacteria,
mycoplasma, fungi
All bacterial,
mycoplasma, fungal contaminants monitored weekly
