Packages

Please remember that this guide was made primarily with rat breeders in mind. If you also breed mice or other species, you might consider contacting Charles River Laboratories to create a custom panel for your specific needs.

The Rat Breeder Assessment test will give you the best overview on your colony. This test is a great option initially or if you no longer plan on adding more rats to your colony. If you are planning to add more rats in the future and want the best chances of keeping negative results, seek out other tested breeders.

At minimum, testing for the zoonotic agents (HANT, LCMV, SEND, RBF) is suggested yearly. If you live in a rural area where you’re more likely to have contact with wild rodents, you may want to test more often. RBF is certainly the most expensive test, and it’s understood that it may not be feasible for everyone. However, it is an incredibly dangerous virus that has taken human lives and should be taken seriously. Holding off on testing for RBF until you’re no longer bringing in new stock may give you the best security of not needing to retest.