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A primer on rodent identification methods

Lab Animal volume 34, pages 64–67 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Identifying laboratory rodents as a group may be sufficient if all the animals are to receive the same treatment and/or manipulation and if individual variations in response are not to be recorded separately. However, it is frequently necessary to be able to differentiate between individual animals used in a study. Identification of individual animals may also be necessary to maintain health records and to properly manage colonies of laboratory animals in compliance with regulatory agencies and research protocol requirements.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: (a) Ear punching/notching is a semi-permanent to permanent rodent identification method.
Figure 3: Ear tags should be placed in the distal one-third of the pinna.
Figure 4

References

  1. Canadian Council on Animal Care. Experimental Animal User Training Core Topics Modules, Basic Animal Care, Animal Identification Brochure. http://www.ccac.ca/english/educat/Module09E/AIDB.html.

  2. Case Transgenic & Targeting Facility, Case Western Reserve University. Frequently asked questions about breeding mice. http://ko.cwru.edu/services/musfrming.html.

  3. National Institutes of Health Office of Animal Care and Use. Guidelines for the genotyping of mice and rats. http://oacu.od.nih.gov/ARAC/GenotypRodnt.pdf.

  4. University of California, San Francisco Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. IACUC/LARC standard procedures: rodent identification. http://www.iacuc.ucsf.edu/Policies/awSPRodID.asp.

  5. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. IACUC standard operating procedures and guidelines: rat/mouse toe clip and tattoo information. http://research.unc.edu/iacuc/newsop.htm.

  6. Kort, W.J., Hekking-Weijma, J.M., TenKate, M.T., Sorm, V. & VanStrik, R. A microchip implant system as a method to determine body temperature of terminally ill rats and mice. Lab. Anim. 32(3), 260–269 (1998).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Animal Resource Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, 10021, NY

    Lotus Wang DVM

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  1. Lotus Wang DVM
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Correspondence to Lotus Wang DVM.

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Wang, L. A primer on rodent identification methods. Lab Anim 34, 64–67 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0405-64

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0405-64

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