Microbiology Culture
Our microbiology services screen for bacterial species known to be primary pathogens as well as important opportunistic agents. Bacterial isolates are identified by a combination of culture characteristics and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry or VITEK 2 biochemical analysis. Screening can be completed as part of whole live animal health monitoring or from individual samples collected at your facility and submitted to us. Microbiological analysis is available for mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets, and nonhuman primates.
Services
- Anaerobic and/or aerobic culture
- Abscess/wound
- Skin
- Fecal
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Upper respiratory tract
- Fungal culture
- Custom culture and ID
- Antimicrobial susceptibility
- Sterility testing
- Environmental monitoring
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Timely and relevant antimicrobial treatment is key to managing bacterial infections in animal colonies. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is available as an add-on service to bacterial culture and identification. Depending on the bacteria isolated in the sample, testing may be performed using the VITEK 2 or Kirby-Bauer method. A fixed panel of clinically relevant antimicrobials will be used to measure susceptibility.
Sterility and Environmental Testing
Sterilization methods, such as autoclaving, can be susceptible to failure. Culture and microbial identification services are available for feed, water, bedding, enrichment, and other materials to verify the status of these items in the animal’s environment. In addition, sterility testing can be used to confirm that cell lines, research biologics, and other materials are free from viable microbes capable of growing under aerobic and anaerobic nutrient-rich conditions.
A Guide to Modern Strategies for Infection Surveillance of Rodent Populations: Beyond Sentinels
This guide highlights infection surveillance for rodent populations, provides a brief overview of agents to consider as part of a program, and offers recommendations for selecting assays.