Animal Transfer & Procurement

Before You Order... | List of Animals | Non-Approved Vendors/Importing | Exporting | UW Facility to UW Facility Animal Transfer | Forms

NON-APPROVED VENDORS
Importing Animals

<The Non-Approved Vendor Animal Ordering Process>

Ordering animals or receiving gratis animals from Non-Approved Vendors or Institutions can take longer than getting animals from the Approved Vendor List. Any vendor or institution not on the Approved Vendor List is considered a Non-Approved Vendor. While the time varies, many domestic orders take between two to four weeks to be completed and the animals received. Orders from foreign sources usually take from two to eight weeks. Sometimes orders will take considerably longer to arrive. This is usually beyond the control of Animal Purchasing.

There are multiple processes working simultaneously. The Animal and Main Purchasing Offices, Technology Transfer, and Animal Welfare Office are trying to ensure that all facets of Non-Approved Vendor orders are dealt with legally and in a timely manner. Please be patient as we process your order.

Any animal coming into the University from a non-approved source, whether it is ordered and paid for or received as a "gratis" donation must be "ordered" following the instructions below.

<Initial Paperwork to Turn In>

The following documents must all be submitted together when ordering from Non-Approved Vendors or Institutions.

1. Non-Approved Vendor Order Form
   


2. Current Health Status Reports from the sending institution.
   
   Health information is required for animals entering any of the UW facilities. This includes conventional housing as different institutions have different endemic diseases. A rodent-health-monitoring veterinarian, who evaluates the health status of the incoming animals and determines which quarantine the animals will enter when they arrive, reviews the animal Health Reports. In the majority of cases, all animals from Non-Approved Vendors or Institutions will enter quarantine for four weeks with medicated feed. The animals will be released from quarantine to their final housing once all tests for rodent pathogens are negative. Delays can occur when the sending institution does not have current or complete Health Reports for your desired strains. Health Reports within the last three months are required for SPF rodents, and must include Serology and Parasitology. Please contact the sending institution for this information.
   
   Any questions regarding Health Reports can be directed to:
   Sue Dowling, DVM sdowling@u.washington.edu 206.221.3933
   


3. Some vendors/institutions require a legal document to be signed in order to receive animals. These documents might include: Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA), Service Agreement, or a Cross Breeding Agreement.
   


4. If animals are being bought (versus transferred “gratis”), Animal Purchasing will submit a Purchase Order (PO) to the UW Purchasing Office. Please submit a Price List or Price Quote of the animals to be purchased. This does not pertain to shipping services, only animal services.

Incomplete or missing information will delay the processing of your order and your request may be returned to you. If no information is supplied with your Non-Approved Vendor Form, the animal request will be returned to you with this instruction sheet.

When the required forms are completed please email them to:

Animal Purchasing: animals@u.washington.edu

<Overview of Ordering Process>

1. Non-Approved Vendor Order Form is received with all documents requested on instruction sheet.
2. The NAV Packet is sent to Rodent Health Monitoring for Veterinary Approval.
3. Once order has been approved to ship, the Vendor/Institution will be sent shipping approval by Animal Purchasing. A copy of this email is also sent to the Lab’s contact (person who is ordering the animals).
4. The Vendor/Institution notifies Animal Purchasing of the confirmed ship and arrival date. We notify the Lab’s contact of the arrival date via email.
5. Animals arrive and are put into quarantine. The Lab and Animal Purchasing is notified of their arrival.
6. When quarantine is completed, animals are moved into the final destination room approved by the receiving facility.

<Importing from Foreign Vendors and Institutions>

Importing animals from foreign vendors or institutions requires special processing and will take longer (often two to eight weeks although each order is different and sometimes orders may take considerably longer to be filled). Please make sure all forms and information are complete when you turn in your request to avoid delays.

Animal Purchasing: animals@u.washington.edu

1. Contact Animal Purchasing (animals@u.washington.edu) and Dr. George Sanders (gsander@u.washington.edu) for assistance in ordering fish embryos.

2. Indicate the common name plus genus and species of the fish embryos you are requesting so that we can assist you in determining if there are any federal or state importation regulations that will require you to obtain the necessary permits from various agencies.  

3.  If the facility is sending ONLY disinfected (bleached or iodophor treated) eggs then we will need a written document from the originating facility/colony stating when the eggs were disinfected (date), with what disinfectant, at what concentration or percentage of disinfectant in solution, and the length of contact time of the eggs to the disinfectant. This information is required so that Dr. Sanders can evaluate and approve any order. This information should also be attached to the health certificate signed and dated by their veterinarian to accompany the shipment container.

4. If the facility is sending live post-hatched larval fish then we will need a document from the originating facility including the colony’s past history of disease diagnosis and any treatments performed, the colony’s importation quarantine procedures, the current health status of the colony, the animals spawned to produce the larvae, and the larvae. This information is required so that Dr. Sanders can evaluate and approve any order. This information should also be attached to the health certificate signed and dated by their veterinarian to accompany the shipment container.   

 Notes regarding specific fish species:

• Completed veterinary health certificates should always accompany fish shipped internationally. This is also recommended for the shipment of fish within the USA.   As of 2007 there are no federal (USDA-APHIS or US Fish & Wildlife) importation requirements or restrictions for zebrafish (Danio rerio).
• As of 2007 there are no importation requirements or restrictions for zebrafish (Danio rerio) from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife if the fish WILL ONLY be used for research endeavors.

<FAQ>

Q.	Are places within Seattle (VA Puget Sound, Fred Hutch, Benaroya, etc) considered Non-Approved Vendors?
A.	Yes. Any facility outside of the University of Washington is considered a Non-Approved Vendor and must follow the procedures as such.

 

Updated April 16, 2008