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Microbial Status and Genetic Evaluation of Mice and Rats: Proceedings of the 1999 US/Japan Conference (2000)

Chapter: Introductory Comments on Microbiologic Testing of Laboratory Mice and Rats: Uniformity of Results

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Suggested Citation:"Introductory Comments on Microbiologic Testing of Laboratory Mice and Rats: Uniformity of Results." National Research Council. 2000. Microbial Status and Genetic Evaluation of Mice and Rats: Proceedings of the 1999 US/Japan Conference. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9987.
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Introductory Comments on Microbiologic Testing of Laboratory Mice and Rats: Uniformity of Results

Anton M. Allen

Retired, National Institutes of Health and Microbiological Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD

Although the search for ways to improve the uniformity and correctness of test results produced by animal testing laboratories worldwide would appear to be a relatively simple aim, it involves difficult issues because laboratories around the world are managed differently. For example, such laboratories use a variety of tests for a given agent, a multiplicity of testing reagents of varying quality, and many types of equipment; and they have personnel with very different levels of training and expertise. These variables are not likely to be eliminated in the near future because of differences in resources among countries, cultural nuances, resistance to change, and so forth. However, we can still strive for more uniformity of testing even if the efforts must begin focally and spread to other areas at a later time.

Initiatives of this type are no doubt occurring in a number of countries. In the United States, a few efforts have been made but have not been carried very far. The more formal approaches that come to mind include the program that Dr. Dennis Stark began at Rockefeller University, where multiple laboratories are invited to test a single sample and then compare results. Another approach was the development of 25 “monospecific” reference antibody reagents for use in helping to standardize antibody tests for infectious agents of mice and rats. Production of the reagents was accomplished by the combined efforts of the American Committee on Laboratory Animal Diseases (ACLAD) and Microbiological Associates (now BioReliance Corp).

Our speakers are eminently qualified to discuss this subject and give their perspectives.

Suggested Citation:"Introductory Comments on Microbiologic Testing of Laboratory Mice and Rats: Uniformity of Results." National Research Council. 2000. Microbial Status and Genetic Evaluation of Mice and Rats: Proceedings of the 1999 US/Japan Conference. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9987.
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US/Japan meetings on laboratory animal science have been held virtually every year since 1980 under the US/Japan Cooperative Program on Science and Technology. Over the years these meetings have resulted in a number of important documents including the Manual of Microbiologic Monitoring of Laboratory Animals published in 1994 and the article Establishment and Preservation of Reference Inbred Strains of Rats for General Purposes. In addition to these publications, the meetings have been instrumental in increasing awareness of the need for microbiologic monitoring of laboratory rodents and the need for genetic definition and monitoring of mice and rats.

In cooperation with the Comparative Medicine section of NCRR/NIH, the ILAR Council and staff are pleased to become the host for this important annual meeting and look forward to participating in future meetings. The support and sponsorship of NCRR (P40 RR 11611) in the United States and the Central Institute for Experimental Animals in Japan are gratefully acknowledged. Bringing together the leading scientists in the field of laboratory animal care has resulted in increased understanding of American and Japanese approaches to laboratory animal science and should continue to strengthen efforts to harmonize approaches aimed at resolving common challenges in the use of animal models for biomedical research and testing. This effort to improve understanding and cooperation between Japan and the United States should also be useful in developing similar interaction with other regions of the world including Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

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