Shipment of Mice and Embryos

Following the advent of transgenic technology and the subsequent establishment of international consortia for broad-based genomic analysis of the mouse, the need for sharing of resources in the exchange of mouse models and material has reached an all time high. Live animals, embryos, and gametes are ever more increasingly shipped around the world in an exchange or purchase of research material. In this chapter, we shall look at requirements for shipping of live animals locally, as well as review the current requirements for receipt of live animals by governing authorities in Europe, the UK, the USA, Australia, and China. We shall also review procedures for shipping of cryopreserved embryos and gametes, also embryos at ambient temperatures.