JAX® Mice & Services Response to COVID-19
Updated on 1/6/2021
We have compiled this information to keep you updated on the rapidly evolving situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and JAX’s preparedness and response plans.
The health and well-being of our colleagues, customers, and community is our top priority. In response to COVID-19, we activated our emergency preparedness task force to manage and execute operational plans. Our primary focus has always been and continues to be ensuring the safety of personnel as well as uninterrupted JAX operations related to mouse production, distribution, and services. JAX has a wide range of contingency plans to ensure we have the necessary resources needed to run these operations safely, effectively, and at the same high quality you expect from JAX. These plans are informed by our paramount goal of safeguarding the health and well-being of our employees, the welfare of the mice under our care, and our mission of continuing to advance biomedical research.
Safety of the JAX Employees and Community
In line with its mission to advance human health and as a leader in scientific research, The Jackson Laboratory is committed to the safety of its employees and local communities. Given the fast spread of the Omicron variant and the excellent safety profile of available vaccines to help protect the transmission and severity of COVID, JAX has implemented a universal vaccination and booster requirement.
Quality and Access to JAX Mice
The welfare and quality of JAX Mice remains a top priority. We have, and will continue, all of our operations including breeding, validation and care of our mice, or any of the services associated with running client studies. Currently, all models are available and we are continuing to accept new orders for mice and services. Should a delay in shipping or study start dates occur, our dedicated response team will notify customers immediately.
The Jackson Laboratory is recognized as a leader in the distribution of high health status mice that are regularly tested for the exclusion of a wide range of organisms, both pathogenic and opportunistic. We maintain these standards using strict protocols that include personal protective clothing, gloves, and masks or respiratory gear to eliminate direct physical contact with our mice. We also use sterilized supplies, food, water, and bedding and incorporate strict cleaning protocols to maintain this high level of animal health. These normal and standard practices are in place to prevent interchange of organisms between mice and the people working with them.
Please notify us if you are unable to accept or need to cancel your mice orders by emailing orderquest@jax.org
JAX Mice and Services COVID-19: Commonly Asked Questions
Can mice can be infected with Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)?
Recent scientific studies have demonstrated (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/
What is JAX doing to prevent human to mouse transmission of SARS-CoV-2?
As mentioned previously, the risk of human transmission to JAX Mice is highly unlikely. JAX mice are housed in filter topped cages, most of which are held in ventilated cage racks. Additionally, the mice are changed in ventilated flow hood. More importantly, mouse room personnel wear extensive personal protective equipment including: gloves; N95 masks; dedicated scrubs; frock; and, in many rooms, PAPR or face shield. Therefore, there is no physical contact or respiratory interchange between the animals and the scientists working with the mice.
Nonetheless, in keeping with our policy of assuring the healthiest mice for our customers, JAX is offering to test customer's mice for SARS-CoV-2 virus prior to shipping if a customer requests this testing. Our PCR-based assay can detect several common variants of SARS-CoV-2, including those shown in recent studies to infect wild type strains (i.e. non-hACE2 bearing). Moving forward, JAX will include this assay in our routine health monitoring of sentinel animals. In the event of a positive sample, we will take necessary measures to isolate animals and notify potentially affected customers as needed. In addition to these internal risk mitigation efforts, JAX will work to comply with any state or federal regulations and will continue to support our academic and industry collaborators in better understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in mice.
Has JAX activated a formal business continuity plan at their facilities to maintain current operations?
Yes. JAX’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of their community and mice. In response to COVID-19, they have assembled a taskforce to prepare and manage plans for ensuring safety of their personnel as well as uninterrupted JAX operations related to mouse production, distribution, and services. This also includes a wide range of contingency plans to ensure they have the necessary supplies needed to run these operations safely and effectively. These plans are informed by their paramount goals of safeguarding the health of their employees, welfare of the mice under their care, and their mission of continuing to advance biomedical research.
Does JAX anticipate impacts to their ability to supply materials and/or services that they are providing to customers due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) global outbreak?
No. JAX is not experiencing any impacts to supply mouse models or services at this time. JAX is in communication with their vendors and transporters to ensure there are no delays in supply or transportation.
Is JAX limiting the availability of mouse models or services?
No. All JAX operations are active including breeding, model generation, the validation and characterization of our mice, and in vivo studies.
Has JAX received any information from their internal suppliers that may impact their ability to provide materials/services to customers?
As part of activating their emergency response plan, JAX has reached out to their key vendors and suppliers to ensure they have the necessary internal supplies needed to run their operations safely and effectively.
Is JAX aware of any shortages of materials, un-availability of key personnel, or lack of access to physical sites/locations that may be further impacted by the current outbreak?
No. The JAX taskforce is focused on the safety of personnel while also ensuring uninterrupted operations related to mouse production, distribution, and services. This also includes a wide range of contingency plans to ensure they have the necessary supplies needed to run these operations safely and effectively. These plans are developed with the goal of safeguarding the health of their employees, welfare of the mice under their care, and their mission of continuing to advance biomedical research.
Is JAX aware of any current or potential logistical, regulatory (e.g. export bans), or service delivery issues in continuing to provide materials/services to customers?
International Deliveries: JAX is aware of changes to flight schedules, and increased oversight and review of animal shipments in many locations. However, the JAX Global Relations & Logistics teams are working through each change, and adjusting routing and processes to ensure minimal to no disruption.
Domestic (US & Canada) Deliveries: There is no impact to these deliveries, which use dedicated animal transport teams.
Has JAX instituted internal travel restrictions due to COVID-19?
Yes, JAX is currently restricting international travel to Europe and areas of Asia, however there are no anticipated impacts to JAX customers. JAX personnel will be utilizing teleconference and Webex to ensure continued communication with customers for meetings.
How has JAX changed the procedures in delivery and pick up of mice and specimens?
Drivers are practicing general hygiene and personal protective measures in accordance with CDC workplace guidelines. They are practicing physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and are remaining six feet away where proximate contact is avoidable. There is no sharing of pens, phones, or other personal items. In lieu of collecting signatures, they will simply enter the full name of receiving personnel. In most areas, drivers use PPE latex gloves, following recommended removal/disposal techniques. Finally, drivers are disinfecting the interior of vehicle throughout workday and disinfecting their hands (and gloves) before and after each delivery.
For Additional Questions:
If the information provided does not answer your questions or you would like to request additional information, please contact: micetech@jax.org.