Animal Procurement

Animal Procurement 

An active IACUC-approved protocol is required to procure animals. Animals are typically ordered from an approved vendor (process described below). Instructions for ordering animals from a non-approved vendor or receiving animals from a non-Commercial vendor (e.g., another research institution), please visit Procuring Animals From a Non-Approved Vendor, 

Have a question about an order that you have already placed?  Please email DACProcurement@vumc.org. 

Animal Procurement from an Approved Vendor

In order to procure animals from an approved vendor, log into TOPAZ-Elements and click on the "Create a New Animal Order" option.  Quick Guide: Creating Animal Orders in TOPAZ-Elements

• Individuals are authorized to place orders in TOPAZ-Elements once added to an approved animal protocol. 
  • Administrative staff (no animal contact) may be added upon request from the Principal Investigator (PI). Send requests to ACUPAPPSupport@vumc.org. 
  • If you do not have access TOPAZ-Elements, please verify you are listed on an approved animal protocol and then contact ACUPAPPSupport@vumc.org.
• If you can't find the strain you need in the vendor catalog, please select "vendor non-cataloged" for the vendor and male or female from the drop-down list.  Then put all the information on the strain in the order notes. 

All Animal Procurement Requisitions must be entered into TOPAZ-Elements each Tuesday by 4:00 PM. Requisitions received after Tuesday at 4:00 PM will be placed the following week. If you have any questions or concerns regarding orders, contact DACProcurement@vumc.org.

Quarantine is NOT required for animals purchased from an approved vendor as they meet the Vanderbilt health requirements. Please see the List of Excluded Pathogens for the Vanderbilt Mouse Colony for complete information.

Please note: While we try to maintain accurate pricing in TOPAZ, it is subject to change and the labs will be billed what the DAC is invoiced from the vendor.  Please contact the vendors for pricing as needed. 

Approved Vendors for Mice & Rats:

• Charles River Laboratories

• Jackson Laboratories

• Inotiv (formerly Envigo/Harlan)

• Taconic

• Alloy Therapeutics

NIH Approved Vendors for Mice & Rats (requires order in TOPAZ and with NIH Institute Repository):
(Instruction sheet under development)

• Mutant Mouse Resource & Research Centers (MMRRC.org)

  • MMRRC - Jackson Lab

  • MMRRC - University of Missouri

  • MMRRC - University of California, Davis

  • MMRRC - University of North Carolina

• Aged Rodent Colonies / National Institute on Aging
  (https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/aged-rodent-colonies-handbook)

Approved Vendors for Other Species: 
(Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Rabbits, Ferrets, Dogs, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Frogs)

• Charles River Laboratories (guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits)

• Inotiv (guinea pigs)

• Marshall Farms (ferrets, beagles)

• NCI - National Cancer Institute

• Oak Hill Genetics (swine, class A dogs)

• Nobel Life Science (sheep, goats)

• Xenopus 1 (frogs)

   

Delivery Days 

Delivery dates are requested in TOPAZ when you place your order based on the vendor delivery schedule and product availability. 
Delivery changes due to Holidays will be posted as soon as they are known.  

2024 DAC Holiday Animal Delivery Schedule

No orders will be delivered from December 23, 2024 through January 5, 2025. 

Orders submitted after December 10th will be process for delivery when normal deliveries resume on January 6, 2025. 

Need More Help?

For additional information on placing an order in TOPAZ-Elements, visit the TOPAZ-Elements Help Page. 

Questions? Please email dacprocurement@vumc.org to arrange for one-on-one training for individuals who will use the TOPAZ-Elements system.

​