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A Guide to Safe Mouse Handling | Manual on Mouse Transport Protocols and Troubleshooting

　　A Guide to Receiving Mice with Peace of Mind

　　Manual on Mouse Transport Standards and Abnormality Management

　　From order placement and inventory preparation to shipment and customer receipt, the transportation of laboratory animals remains a critical aspect of our operations. Unlike ordinary commodities, laboratory animals are subject to a wide range of factors during transit, including distance, weather conditions, temperature, stress, as well as the animals’ age and physiological state.

　　Therefore, we aim to clearly outline potential scenarios in advance of shipment, enabling customers to promptly assess the situation upon receiving the animals, provide timely feedback, and handle any issues appropriately. In this issue, we have compiled the “Aniphe BioLab Mouse Shipping and After-Sales Support Guide” to help you better understand how to address various situations.

　　

 

　　Q: What should I do if mice die within 48 hours of receipt?

　　For mice in normal health, if any deaths are observed within 48 hours of receipt, please contact us promptly. Upon verification, we will, after deducting the number of complimentary mice included in your order, offer either a replacement shipment or a refund corresponding to the cost of the affected mice, depending on the circumstances.

　　Reissue mouse

　　Deduct the corresponding fees

　　When opting for a replacement shipment, no additional charges will be applied for the mouse cages or transportation costs. Taking into account each customer’s experimental schedule and overall logistics expenses, we can also prioritize negotiating a reduction in fees.

　　

 

　　Customer Case 01

　　Replenishment for APP/PS1 mice

　　Special Note: For animals that are elderly, in poor physical condition, or at significant health risk, we will communicate with the customer in advance prior to shipment and clearly inform them of the potential risk of mortality during transit. For example, mice aged 23 months or older, due to their age and physiological state, generally have lower tolerance to transport. In such cases, after-sales arrangements will be implemented in accordance with the terms agreed upon by both parties before shipment.

　　Q: Do different strains of mice have the same after-sales service standards?

　　Physiological stages and transportation risks vary among different animal species, necessitating categorized handling.

　　See the tethered mouse | Focus on the gestation period

　　During the transport of laboratory mice, conditions such as pseudopregnancy, abortion, and premature delivery may occur. Pseudopregnancy is a physiological change and is not covered under the post‑sale mortality warranty. The typical gestation period for mice is approximately 18–20 days; the closer the mouse is to its expected delivery date, the higher the risk of abortion or premature delivery during transit. Therefore, for female mice nearing term, we will communicate the associated risks with the customer in advance prior to shipment. If your experiment has strict requirements regarding gestational timing, please specify this when placing your order.

　　Newborn rat | Timeliness of transport is critical

　　Nursing mice are particularly sensitive to transport duration and environmental changes. At present, nursing mice are, in principle, shipped via delivery methods that ensure arrival within 24 hours. If the animals arrive within the agreed‑upon transit time and under normal conditions, any mortality attributable to the physiological stage of the nursing mice must be evaluated in light of the specific transit timeframe and the shipment’s handling status.

　　Q: Tumor model: What should I do if I detect an abnormality?

　　For tumor‑related animals, individual variations may occur during transport and upon arrival. If, within 48 hours of receipt, the customer observes any obvious abnormalities—such as hydrocephalus, prominent subcutaneous tumors, or large sarcomas—they may promptly provide photos or videos for our verification. Upon confirmation, subject to deduction of the number of complimentary mice, we can arrange either a replacement shipment of mice or a corresponding refund.

　　

 

　　Customer Case 02

　　Recovery of hair in mice with acute hydrocephalus

　　Q: Quarantine issues: How should different situations be handled?

　　The biosafety and quarantine status of laboratory animals have long been matters of great concern to our clients.

　　

 

　　If samples are collected and tested only after the animal has been kept at the customer’s premises for a period of time, the animal may be influenced by various factors such as its rearing environment, personnel, and facilities; therefore, it will no longer be handled as an after-sales issue related to quarantine upon arrival.

　　Q: Are hair loss, fighting, and changes in body weight signs of a problem in mice?

　　This is a relatively common issue reported by customers after receiving laboratory animals. In fact, transport stress, environmental changes, animal age, sex, and group housing conditions can all contribute to varying degrees of hair loss, aggressive behavior, and changes in body weight.

　　Aged mice: Older animals are more likely to exhibit hair loss, aggression, weight variability, and genital abnormalities. Therefore, for aged animals, we provide advance notice of their condition and an estimated weight range prior to shipment.

　　Non‑senescent mice: Mild hair loss, grooming, and inter‑individual aggression are normal occurrences that may arise during animal husbandry. In general, male mice are more prone to aggressive behavior, while female mice tend to engage in grooming more frequently. However, if extensive hair loss, severe fighting, or obvious injuries occur within 48 hours of receipt, please promptly provide photos or videos as feedback. Upon verification, we will negotiate a replacement shipment or a deduction from the invoice based on the specific circumstances.

　　Regarding weight variation (stress‑induced loss): During transportation, a certain degree of weight loss due to stress, changes in feeding and water intake, and other factors is considered normal transport‑related attrition. Therefore, for mice, a typical reference range for weight variation is ±2 g. For experimental projects with particularly stringent body‑weight requirements, we recommend prior communication before shipment. Upon request, we can perform pre‑shipment weighing and provide the corresponding data to facilitate your verification.

　　Q: Are tail docking, toe docking, and ear cropping considered animal mutilations?

　　If animals require standardized sampling for purposes such as genotyping or strain management—e.g., tail clipping, toe clipping, or ear notching—these methods are commonly employed as part of routine identification and management procedures. For sampling protocols that have been pre‑approved, the associated procedures are considered standard experimental practices. Should clients have specific requirements regarding sampling methods, they may communicate these in advance at the time of order placement.

　　Q: How do we handle under‑issuance, incorrect issuance, and omissions?

　　① Short shipment: If, upon receipt, the customer finds that the quantity received does not match the order, please take photos or videos, contact the sales representative, verify the order and shipping records, and arrange for a replacement shipment or a corresponding credit. For example: if the order specifies 20 + 3 items, but only 22 items are actually shipped, the actual shipment already includes the complimentary items; the specific resolution will be determined based on the details of the original order.

　　② Incorrect shipment: If the animal received does not match the order’s strain, sex, or other specified details, please provide photos or videos; we will verify the discrepancy and arrange for a replacement shipment. Any associated costs for shipping, mouse cages, and the animals themselves resulting from an incorrect shipment will be borne by Ailinfei.

　　③ Omissions: If an order is missed due to issues in order‑information transmission or during the internal ordering process, we will, based on the customer’s experimental schedule, either place a supplemental order for shipment or negotiate a revised delivery date. The specific timing of the supplemental shipment will be subject to the actual lead times of the supplier and the logistics provider. For long‑distance shipments, if the customer’s timeline permits, we can also prioritize negotiating a fee‑reduction arrangement to minimize the risk of subjecting the animals to another lengthy transport.

　　

 

　　Customer Case 03

　　High-quality mouse hair replacement

　　Q: What should I do if the rodent trap is damaged or damp?

　　The rat trap is severely damaged.

　　If, upon receipt, the customer discovers that: the rodent trap is visibly damaged, there is a risk of animal escape, or the packaging significantly compromises animal safety, we recommend taking photos or videos on-site and refusing acceptance immediately, while contacting us without delay. Following verification, we will arrange for appropriate follow-up handling.

　　The mouse box is damp.

　　During prolonged transportation, it is common for mouse cages to become somewhat damp due to animal excrement, bedding materials, and ambient humidity. We recommend that customers promptly transfer the animals to a standard housing environment upon receipt. If you have stricter requirements for transport conditions, please consider selecting our air‑freight‑specific mouse cages in advance. These specialized cages provide an improved transport environment and enhanced protection; associated costs will be calculated separately based on your specific needs.

　　To minimize shipping risks, we prefer to resolve any issues before dispatch.

　　After-sales service is merely the final safeguard. For laboratory animals, proactive communication is often far more critical than post‑event resolution. Therefore, prior to shipment, we recommend that customers confirm the following information in advance:

　　

 

　　For special animal models such as aged mice, germ‑free mice, neonatal mice, and tumor‑bearing mice, we will also discuss potential transportation risks in advance, based on the specific circumstances.

　　A clear after-sales process ensures greater peace of mind during experiments.

　　Our goal is not merely to address issues after they arise, but to establish a closed-loop service system that covers the entire process.

　　

 

　　The transportation of laboratory animals involves certain unique considerations. While it is impossible to eliminate all uncertainties during transit, we can proactively mitigate risks by enhancing pre-shipment communication, standardizing animal‑condition verification, and streamlining post‑delivery procedures.

　　Clear communication before shipment · Guaranteed during transit · Prompt response upon arrival

　　For every batch of laboratory animals, we strive to ensure: clear communication before shipment, reliable support during transit, and prompt assistance upon arrival. Leave the complexity to us—let peace of mind be yours in your research!

　　Aniphe BioLab

　　Tel:025-85208061

　　Consultation email: info@aniphebio.com

　　Order email: order@aniphebio.com

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