EMMA axenic (germ-free) service
Service offered
EMMA offers to transfer 2 litters of mice into a germ-free environment and support their development to weaning age or EMMA will support the maturation of 2 female and 2 male pups up to breeding age. Confirmation of sterility will be performed on the surrogate mother or on 5 weeks old pups.
Costs
This service is funded by the European Commission's FP6 Research Infrastructures Programme and is free of charge. However, the costs of mouse transportation to and from the EMMA facilities have to be covered by the customers.
Further germ-free services including additional production, housing and experimentation can be arranged with the collaborating institutes on a cost recovery basis.
Requirements
Customers need to provide 6 females and 3 males of breeding age, ideally of SPF status. The EMMA service solely concerns the transfer of the progeny of these animals to the germ-free facility.
Schedule
Requests will be evaluated within 30 days by the EMMA Evaluation Committee. Requests will be handled on a 'first come, first served' basis. Germ-free animals will be available on average 12 to 15 weeks after receipt of the parental mice.
Restrictions
The EMMA germ-free service is not restricted to strains that are archived with EMMA and EMMA does not require germ-free strains to be made publicly available.
Collaborations
Additional arrangements for breedings inside or outside of the germ-free facility, transfer of additional litters, prolonged housing and/or experimentation should be negotiated separately with the collaborating institution.
To apply for the EMMA axenic service please complete the EMMA Axenic Service Request Form.