The health monitoring programme includes one full FELASA profile and three reduced FELASA profiles each year.
All racks in continuous use are monitored using both dirty-bedding sentinel animals and randomly selected colony animals. Sentinel animals consist of young female outbred mice and rats of the CD-1 and Sprague Dawley strains, respectively. Cage changes are performed every two weeks for mice and every week for rats. Sentinel animals receive soiled bedding at each cage change.
Samples for microbiological testing are collected from live animals, including blood, faeces and fur. Samples are analysed by Charles River Laboratories using serological methods (MFA/IFA) and real-time PCR.