|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Click below to show corresponding FAQs:
Health Monitoring
Microbiological Services
Plasma Biomarker Analysis (Rules-Based Medicine, Inc.)
Serology Services
Serology Reagents
Infectious Disease PCR Testing
In Vivo Biosafety Testing
Miscellaneous
| HEALTH MONITORING FAQs |
| What is the turnaround time for lab services? |
- Macroscopic Exam with Histology: Approximately 7-10 days, depending on sample submission size and the test(s) being performed
- Macroscopic Exam without Histology: Approximately 48-72 hours, depending on sample submission size and the test(s) being performed
- Parasitology: Approximately 24-48 hours
- Diagnostic Pathology: Approximately 4-6 working days
|
| How do I submit animals for health monitoring? |
(click here)
|
| How should I send samples? |
Before shipping live animals, you must schedule comprehensive health monitoring services with a technical representative by calling 1-800-338-9680; unscheduled animals cannot be processed. Charles River will provide shipping containers or you can use your own. On the outside of the crate, please write the Group ID and indicate the number of animals enclosed. A completed Health Monitoring Accession Form should accompany all shipments. Ship the container(s) by an express carrier or arrange shipment through a technical service representative. Note that the federal transportation regulations apply to all animal shipments.
Please ship to:
Commercial Health Monitoring
Charles River Laboratories
251 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
|
| What is the lead time for receiving products/services? What about getting results? |
When you speak with a technical representative to schedule your testing, a lead time is determined based on the panel of tests you require and the number of animals to be submitted. Results for Serology are reported upon completion. A Diagnostic Summary is faxed upon completion of Bacteriology results. A complete report is issued when the entire testing panel is complete.
|
| What do your various products and services cost and how can I get more information about them? |
The prices for Health Monitoring Services (HM Basic, Standard and Plus) are available in our catalog (opens new window). If you have questions and would like to speak with a technical representative, please call 1-800-338-9680 or send an email.
|
| How do I decide on the frequency of my Health Monitoring Program? |
The frequency of monitoring, as well as the number and age of animals sampled, is governed by a number of factors. We recommend that colonies be evaluated every 2-18 weeks. Colonies that are at a greatest risk for exposure to pathogenic agents (e.g. non-barrier, conventional colonies) should be tested most often. When deciding on the number of animals to screen, you should consider the likely prevalence of the condition you are trying to detect. The disease prevalence can be used in conjunction with a formula published by ILAR (ILAR News, 19:L22-L23, 1976) to estimate the appropriate number of animals to evaluate. For more information, please refer to the on-line Technical Bulletin, A Laboratory Animal Health Monitoring Program: Rationale and Development. No single approach to health monitoring can be applied to all situations. The experienced staff of Charles River would be pleased to assist you in developing a comprehensive health monitoring program. Please contact Technical Services at 1-800-338-9680 for any assistance.
|
Back to top
| |
| MICROBIOLOGICAL SERVICES FAQs |
| What is the turnaround time for lab services? |
Approximately 7-14 working days, depending on sample submission size and test(s) being performed
|
Back to top
| |
| PLASMA BIOMARKER ANALYSIS (RULES-BASED MEDICINE) FAQs |
| What is the relationship between Charles River Laboratories and Rules-Based Medicine? |
Charles River Laboratories and Rules-Based Medicine (RBM) are in collaboration though a worldwide agreement in which Charles River Laboratories exclusively markets RBM's Multi-Analyte Profiles.
|
| What is a rodent Multi-Analyte Profile (MAP)? |
Based on Luminex technology, Multi-Analyte Profiles (MAPs) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the proteome response to disease, drugs, and the environment in laboratory animals. Measure markers of cancer, infectious disease, autoimmunity, cardiovascular risk, as well as hormones, cytokines/chemokines, and acute phase reactants in a single drop of blood! MAPs are utilized for:
- Understanding Disease Models
- Efficacy of pharmaceutical agents
- Retrospective studies of banked samples
- Timed studies of a single mouse
- Correlation of an animal's genotype to phenotype
- Basic research on tissue culture supernatants
- Studies comparing gene expression to MAPs
- Animal model phenotyping
|
| What kinds of MAP panels do you offer? |
| A Rodent MAP is offered by Rules-Based Medicine, Inc. MAP testing is performed under strict compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Specificity of each assay is established during the validation phase. All reagents used in the MAPs are commercially available and stable. |
| What is a typical project? |
A typical project is a comparison between a control and an experimental group of animals. Investigators can compare:
- Transgenic and knockouts vs. wild type counterparts
- Treated animals (drugs/compounds) vs. untreated animals
Note that an investigator must supply the control animals for comparison within each experimental set. We will not supply "normal" mouse values for these analytes due to the wide variability between mouse strains.
|
| What types of samples are preferred for MAP testing? |
The ideal sample is undiluted plasma in EDTA or Sodium Citrate anticoagulants (final concentration of 5mM).
- e.g. Microtainer® Brand EDTA Tubes (250-500µL Fill volume)
Serum is also a popular sample; however, clotting factors will not be present and therefore will not be measured in the MAP. Badly hemolyzed samples are not preferred because of the potential to alter the analyte pattern. Heparin plasma is not recommended.
|
| What other samples are acceptable? |
We have developed standard operating procedures for other sample types, including CSF, sputum, tissue extracts, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, neat and concentrated urine, broncheoaveolar lavage, cell lysates, and tissue culture fluids. It is important with these fluids that we understand more about them, such as the method used to prepare and/or collect them, because our testing procedure may change slightly depending upon the general protein concentration.
|
| What buffers should I use with my sample? |
Phosphate or Tris are good buffers at pH 7-8 with salt concentrations up to 150 mM, glycerol up to 10%, and protease inhibitors. If surfactants are used, it is important that we test their compatibility with our system before testing samples.
|
| How much sample is needed? |
A minimum of 50 microliters of undiluted plasma in anticoagulant or serum. For samples other than those derived from blood, 150 microliters are necessary because most of these samples will be assayed without dilution.
|
| How should I sample my animals? |
We have no preferred method of collection, as there are too many parameters. We simply want to know how it was done and strongly suggest that it be done the same way with all samples within a study. For example, fasting animals prior to sample collection may help to stabilize those analytes influenced by blood sugar and insulin levels. Because circadian rhythms may influence analyte concentration, it would be best to collect samples at the same time of day.
|
| Can I pool samples? |
Yes, however be forewarned that the smaller the pool, the larger the skew will be from those samples that are outliers for a particular analyte.
|
| Do I need to test samples in duplicate or triplicate? |
Based on the technology, this is not necessary. Fifty independent readings are taken from each sample. However, if you are seeing readings at the low-end of the detection range, running in duplicate or triplicate may offer some benefit.
|
| I have a Xenographic sample - how do you recommend I test it? |
We recommend that mouse and human MAPs be performed, however, please contact us for a discussion of the options.
|
| How and where do I ship samples? |
Samples should be sent directly to the laboratory in Austin, Texas, accompanied by an accession form.
SHIP SAMPLES TO:
Rules-Based Medicine
3300 Duval Road, Suite 110
Austin, TX 78759
Phone:(512) 835-8026
Samples should be sent in insulated containers frozen on dry ice.
|
| What type of data will I receive? |
Customers will receive calculated concentrations for each analyte in the form of an excel spreadsheet. Statistical analysis for pattern recognition can be performed by Rules-Based Medicine. Reports will be sent to the customer electronically. Turnaround time is two weeks.
|
| Do you offer data analysis? |
We offer several different analysis packages depending upon the level of information you are looking to obtain from your data set. Please contact us at 1-800-338-9680 for details.
|
| Do you have normative data on inbred strains for comparison? |
Data for C57, 129, and FVB mouse strains is available upon request. Data will also be available shortly on the following rat strains: CD, CDF, and ZDF.
|
| What is the Lowest Detectable Dose (LDD)? |
The LDD is the lower limit at which the system can accurately calculate the concentration of an experimental sample and be sure that the concentration is higher than a blank sample. The LDD is determined by analyzing 20 blank samples, calculating the mean, and adding 3 standard deviations to this mean. Significant variation in sample concentration is expected for samples that are close to the LDD.
|
| What are low values? |
The reported value for an experimental sample which is below the detection range of the standard curve. The analyte assays work well in all the sample types, however, the concentrations of some analytes may fall below the least detectable dose in some samples. For example, urine is a more dilute sample for many of the antigens than serum.
|
| How are these experimental numbers determined? |
Standard curves are generated (8-point curves run in duplicate) using samples of known concentration. The experimental sample concentration (mean value from 50 beads) is extrapolated from the curve. A standard curve is run for each batch of samples processed. The concentration units, ug/ml and pg/ml, are micrograms per milliliter and picograms per milliliter, respectively.
|
| What is the RBM ratio? |
In the serology panels (autoimmune and infectious diseases), a bead is added to control for non-specific binding of antibody to the beads. The signal for the control bead is subtracted from the specific reaction bead and this value is divided by the control bead signal to give the RBM ratio [(Specific bead - non-specific bead)/non-specific bead].
|
| What is the RBM cut-off? |
The cut-off value used for the serology panels is the normal value for mice/rats. If the results for a sample are higher than this value, the animal is considered to have antibodies against that specific antigen. The cut-off value was derived by determining the average of >200 mice and adding 3 standard deviations to the mean.
|
| How are RBM MAP panels priced? |
Please contact your sales representative for current pricing.
|
| Where should I direct further questions? |
All questions should be initially directed to your sales representative and, if necessary, our technical staff will assist you. Charles River Laboratories Technical Services can be reached at 1-800-338-9680.
|
Back to top
| What serology profiles are available? |
Please refer to the Research Animal Diagnostic Services section of our 2007 Products and Services Catalog (opens new window).
|
| What is the turnaround time for lab services? |
Approximately 48-72 hours
|
| How do I submit serum samples for serology? |
(click here)
|
| How should I send samples? |
A minimum of one-half mL of diluted serum should be provided for Serology testing. Serum samples should be diluted one part serum to four parts phosphate-buffered saline. Do not heat inactivate them. Freeze vial at -20°C or below. The vials should be bagged and put on dry ice in an appropriate styrofoam shipper. A completed Serology Accession Form should accompany all samples. Please call 1-800-338-9680 to arrange for provision of a free shipper.
Ship them by overnight delivery to:
Serology Laboratory
Charles River Laboratories
251 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
|
| What is the lead time for receiving products/services? What about getting results? |
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) are run Monday and Wednesday nights. If needed, confirmation tests are done by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) or Hemagglutination Inhibition (HAI) on Thursday. If samples are received by noon on Wednesday, testing will be done Wednesday night. If confirmation tests are not needed, you will receive a faxed report by the end of our business day on Thursday or Friday morning. If confirmation tests are necessary, you will receive a report by the end of our business day on Friday. If samples are received after noon on Wednesday, they will be held for the following Monday night ELISA run. If confirmation tests are not needed, you will have a faxed report by the end of our business day on Tuesday or Wednesday morning. If confirmation tests are required on Thursday, you will receive a report by the end of our business day on Friday.
|
| What do your various products and services cost and how can I get more information about them? |
The prices for Serology Testing Services (Tracking, Assessment and Assessment Plus Profiles) are available in our catalog (opens new window). If you have questions and would like to speak with a technical representative, please call 1-800-338-9680 or send an email.
|
| What do the abbreviations stand for on the serology reports? |
Please refer to the Glossary of Terms page in our on-line 2007 Catalog.
|
Back to top
| What is the lead time for receiving products/services? What about getting results? |
The lead time for Reagents orders is two weeks due to the complexity of assembling these orders. To place an order, please contact our Technical Services at 1-800-338-9680.
|
| How long are the Reagents I purchase from Charles River Laboratories good for? |
Charles River's Serology Reagents have a shelf life of at least one year from the production date, if stored appropriately. Please store these products at -20oC when not in use. Expiration information is all contained on the product specification for each product.
|
| What do your various products and services cost and how can I get more information about them? |
The prices for Serology Reagents (96-well plates, IFA slides, control antisera, and conjugate) are available in our catalog (opens new window). If you have questions and would like to speak with a technical representative, please call 1-800-338-9680 or send an email.
|
Back to top
| |
| INFECTIOUS DISEASE PCR TESTING FAQs |
| What is the turnaround time for lab services? |
-
Helicobacter testing: Approximately 7-10 working days
- Virus Diagnostic testing: Approximately 7-10 working days
- Virus Panels: Approximately 5-7 working days
|
| How should I send samples? |
Test articles may differ depending upon the virus of interest. For example, lung tissue is the preferred sample type for the detection of MHV. However, many viruses have more than one test article type and actively shedding viruses may be detected using fecal pellets if the animal cannot be sacrificed. Please call Technical Assistance for details, 1-800-338-9680. A Rodent Diagnostic Services and Recommended Sample Types Molecular Diagnostics Sample Accession Form should accompany all submissions made to Charles River Laboratories to insure accurate and prompt delivery to the intended destination. Please cut out, fill in, and adhere to the outside of your shipping package. Do not place label on package in location used by overnight courier.
|
| What do your various products and services cost and how can I get more information about them? |
The prices for Infectious Disease PCR Testing are available in our catalog (opens new window). If you have questions and would like to speak with a technical representative, please call 1-800-338-9680 or send an email.
|
Back to top
| |
| IN VIVO BIOSAFETY TESTING FAQs |
| What is the turnaround time for lab services? |
Approximately 6-8 weeks
|
| How should I send samples? |
To submit test articles for MAP/RAP/HAP testing we recommend that you provide 5 X 106 cells/mL for completion of the test panel. Cells should be diluted 1:1 in supernatant or 1:4 in ascites. No additional media is required. Please call Technical Assistance at 1-800-338-9680 for a Test Article Submission Form.
|
| What is the lead time for receiving products/services? What about getting results? |
To set up samples for MAP testing, please contact our Technical Services at 1-800-338-9680. They will schedule the study and provide results to you upon the completion of the study in approximately six to eight weeks. A Test Article Submission Form must accompany any submissions. Please call Technical Assistance for a Test Article Submission Form, 1-800-338-9680. Results are generally faxed to the customer upon completion of the services, but through ILIMS, the option is now available to receive emailed results as well.
|
| What do your various products and services cost and how can I get more information about them? |
The prices for MAP/RAP/HAP Testing are available in our catalog (opens new window). If you have questions and would like to speak with a technical representative, please call 1-800-338-9680 or send an email.
|
Back to top
| What does Charles River know about Murine Norovirus (MNV-1)? |
Please see the attached document about MNV-1, which will be updated as we learn more about this recently discovered norovirus.
Murine Norovirus (MNV-1)
|
| What is ILIMS? |
(click here)
|
| I am having problems interpreting my results. Where do I go for answers? |
For immediate assistance with results, please call Technical Services at 1-800-338-9680. Commonly we are asked what "TC" means on a report. TC is a non-specific result and does not indicate whether or not a specimen contains antibodies. We prefer to retest samples which produce this result by an alternate serologic method or to test new samples. For more information, please refer to the on-line Technical Bulletin, Serologic Testing to Monitor Rodents for Viral and Mycoplasmal Infection or to the Summer 1997 version of The Sentinel also available on-line. We are also commonly asked about the method for reporting results as "+" or "-" with Serology. This is the way we have set up the spectrophotometric reader to report the results. If you are interested in receiving an actual score for test results, just indicate this on the Accession Form.
|
| What different animal products do you provide? |
We offer a wide range of Biospecimens products including blood products, tissues, organs and other related items. We fill custom requests for these types of materials. Please call 1-800-LAB-RATS or email to inquire further.
|
| Do you offer any discounts for your diagnostic services? |
Diagnostic Services offers clients in the United States a volume discount program for all purchases of diagnostic products and services (serology services, Immunocomb and serology reagents, comprehensive health monitoring, genetic monitoring, and molecular diagnostic testing) with the exception of Multi-Analyte Profile testing and In Vivo Biosafety. Depending on program scope, some Charles River Laboratories Research Animal Diagnostic Services customers may receive annual fixed discounts off of list price. Upon beginning a program with Diagnostic Services, please contact your sales representative to determine your institution's eligibility.
|
Back to top
|
What's New
Research Animal Diagnostic Services West Coast Laboratory
Charles River Introduces SCID Hairless Outbred (SHO) Mouse
Charles River Announces Dates and Locations of 2008 German Seminar Series
All news items
|
