Germ-Free Mouse Facility
Established in 2004, the Germ-Free Mouse Facility, part of the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM), provides services to the entire University of Michigan community and can also ship germ-free mice to locations worldwide.
Primary and collaborative research projects include studies investigating inflammatory bowel disease and cancer, host microbiome interactions, infectious disease pathogenesis, and mammalian and bacterial metabolism, among others. The staff also performs research and training in gnotobiotic technology and methods.
A complete list of recent publications that include U-M’s Germ-Free Mouse Facility can be found on PubMed.
Users must have an approved animal use protocol from the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) prior to utilizing Germ-Free Mouse Facility services and facilities.
About the Germ-Free Mouse Facility
Mice can be used in our facility or shipped to other facilities in germ-free shipping containers.
Available strains include:
- C57BL/6
- BALB/c
- Swiss-Webster (outbred)
- IL-10 knockout (B6.129P2-Il10tm1Cgn/J)
- Others may be available upon request
Several varieties of germ-free and barrier housing are available:
Sterile:
Trexler-type soft-sided isolators can be used for breeding colonies and long-term germ-free or gnotobiotic housing
Barrier:
- Microisolator cages can be kept sterile in biosafety cabinets for short-term experiments
- Individual Isocages® (Tecniplast) can maintain germ-free or gnotobiotic conditions for long-term experiments
Biosafety Cabinets
Breeding Isolators
Isolator Room
Double Isolator
- Inoculation (oral and parenteral)
- Sample collections, including:
- Blood
- Tissue
- Feces
- Body weights
- Necropsy and tissue collection
- Technical consultation
- Other services may be available on request
Husbandry
- Re-derivation of new germ-free strains
- Consultation:
- Experimental design
- Pathology services
- Histologic interpretation
Contract services may also be available.
Please contact [email protected] or call (734) 615-9420 for specific inquiries
Isocage Housing Rack
Facilities and associated services are offered on a fee-for-service basis. Users are charged for all supplies, technical assistance, and equipment used. Estimates are available upon request.
Germ-Free Mouse Facility Rates
DESCRIPTION
RATE
EFFECTIVE
Animal Procurement Rates
C57Bl/6 Germ-Free Mice < 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 85.45
07/01/2023
C57Bl/6 Germ-Free Mice > 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 115.81
07/01/2023
Swiss-Webster Germ-Free Mice < 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 73.78
07/01/2023
Swiss-Webster Germ-Free Mice > 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 81.21
07/01/2023
IL-10KO Germ-Free Mice < 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 85.45
07/01/2023
IL-10KO Germ-Free Mice > 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 115.81
07/01/2023
Rag1/KO Germ-Free Mice < 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 85.45
07/01/2023
Rag1/KO Germ-Free Mice > 8 weeks (per animal)
$ 115.81
07/01/2023
Germ-Free Rates
5-pack fecal kit
$ 22.47
07/01/2023
10-pack fecal kit
$ 24.50
07/01/2023
5-pack serum submandibular collection kit
$ 23.98
07/01/2023
10-pack serum submandibular collection kit
Discontinued
07/01/2023
5-pack whole blood submandibular collection kit
$ 25.00
07/01/2023
10-pack whole blood submandibular collection kit
$ 30.87
07/01/2023
Injection kit
$ 21.68
07/01/2023
Germ-Free per-diem (per cage/day)
$ 5.59
07/01/2023
Germ-Free shipper
Discontinued
07/01/2023
Gas sterilization – small
$ 26.97
07/01/2023
Gas sterilization – medium
$ 23.26
07/01/2023
Gas sterilization – large
$ 31.87
07/01/2023
Sterile mouse box transport kit
$ 25.04
07/01/2023
Oral gavage w/ feeding needle kit
$ 29.29
07/01/2023
Port entry/exit
$ 27.62
07/01/2023
*Rates subject to change.
References and Resources
Germ-Free Mouse Facility User Request Form (PDF download)
Questions?
Contact [email protected] or (734) 615-9420 for additional information, or to learn more about available services.