ABSTRACT
A health report is a documented summary of the data obtained from health surveillance of the colony of origin. While it is no guarantee of the health status of the mice received from another institution, it can provide a good indication of the facility’s health monitoring practices and, in many cases, the health history of the colony of origin. Ideally, a health report should be obtained and reviewed before the animals are shipped; this can help you determine in advance whether the animals are likely to meet the health standards of your facility. If the health report shows that the colony of origin is infected with organisms on your exclusion list, you have the opportunity to cancel the shipment or decide how you will handle the mice when they arrive. If additional health information is shipped with the mice-for example, a more recent health report-it is prudent to review this new information as soon as the animals arrive, especially if the plan was to send them directly to the barrier. When reviewing a health report, look for the following information.
