We can help you in adding a test compound or ingredient to a diet. This is often a convenient approach to dosing research animals. We refer to these compounds as “Customer Supplied Ingredients” or “Customer Reserves”, and they can be added to most diets. The investigator supplies these compounds to us. When adding a compound to a diet, there are some important considerations:

Safety
Depending on the nature of the compound, we may require a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or other relevant safety and usage information. We have an obligation to maintain a safe work environment. This typically applies to drugs, experimental compounds and chemicals. Food products generally will not require safety information, although information about nutrient content, reason for use, etc. is helpful in the design of diets.

Stability (water, heat)
Water is added as a pelleting aid. Pellets are formed under pressure but no external heat is applied. Sometimes the drying process can be modified if heat stability is questioned. It is your responsibility to determine the suitability of the compound for inclusion into a pelleted diet.

Stability (irradiation)
If you require irradiation, we can customize most diets to be suitable for this sterilization process. Once your diet has been produced, we can send it for irradiation. The dose ranges from 20-50 kGy. Diets that are to be irradiated require an additional 2 weeks for shipment (4 weeks total). For diets that are to be irradiated, vacuum packaging may also be beneficial. Both irradiation and vacuum packaging MUST be requested when ordering. It is your responsibility to determine the suitability of the compound for irradiation.

Inclusion Rate
Please let us know, on a g/Kg diet or percentage basis, how much of the compound you want in the diet. If you have in mind a dose based on animal body weight, we can help convert that to g/Kg diet.

Quantity of Compound to Send
Please send extra compound (approximately enough for one more kg than you have ordered) so that we can yield the desired amount of diet. If you do not send enough compound, we will use the entire amount and make as much diet as possible, unless special arrangements can be made.

Inventory of the Compound
If you plan to use the compound more than once & stability with storage is not an issue, we will maintain an inventory for you and store it appropriately, per your instructions. Otherwise, we will return any remaining compound with your shipment. We will not be responsible for disposing of the compound.

Please contact technical services for further information.