Q1: What is a custom research diet?
A: Custom research diets are typically formulated for a specific type of research objective. These diets can consist of refined ingredients (purified diets), natural ingredients (grain and other ingredients found in standard diets), or utilize a standard diet as a base to which other ingredients are added. Any of these diet types can serve as the basis to add a customer-supplied ingredient (test article, pharmaceutical, food extract, etc).
We have approximately 20,000 diets in our database, so the formula you require may already have been created. We also utilize this database as a resource when formulating new diets. We will be pleased to provide you a complete formula sheet, containing the ingredients and inclusion rate, macronutrient values, key features, and planning and ordering information.
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Q2: What is a standard diet?
A: A more complete name would be Standard Natural-Ingredient Diets. These diets are manufactured in large quantities (at least 2 tons) and stocked at one or more Harlan Teklad distribution centers. Standard natural ingredient diets are readily available and can generally be delivered within a few days after an order is placed. These diets primarily contain grains (corn, wheat), legumes (soybean meal) and to a lesser extent ingredients such as fish meal, and meat and bone meal. Standard diets can serve as the base diet to which a variety of compounds or ingredients can be added. See Standard diet with additions or Customer Supplied Ingredients for more information.
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Q3: What is a purified diet?
A: A purified diet uses refined ingredients such as casein, sucrose, cornstarch, and cellulose. These human food grade ingredients have relatively simple chemical compositions (predominantly one nutrient classification) and this feature is important for manipulating individual nutrients for research purposes. Additionally, most refined ingredients contain very limited levels of non-nutrients that could have biological activity. This is in contrast to the natural ingredients (corn, wheat, soybean meal, etc.) used in standard diets, which have relatively complex chemical compositions as well as various phytochemicals that may or may not be physiologically relevant.
Refined ingredients are obtained from reliable suppliers of human grade products, and we consistently obtain ingredients from the same vendors, year after year. Additionally, the major protein ingredients are assayed for a specific panel of nutrients to ensure minimal variation. Thus, purified diets will be repeatable and can easily be modified. Examples of common purified diets include AIN-76A (CA.170481), AIN-93G (TD.94045), and AIN-93M (TD.94048).
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Q4: What is the difference between AIN-76A, AIN-93G, and AIN-93M?
A: The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) (formerly American Institute of Nutrition, AIN) has promoted the use of nutritionally adequate purified diets for rodents, because many researchers may not be aware of potential nutritional variables. The AIN-76 formula was published in 1977, and became AIN-76A with minor revision (increased Vitamin K) in 1980. The diet has been used extensively, and there were several suggestions about improvements. This resulted in the publication of two formulas in 1993, AIN-93G (for growth, reproduction, and lactation) and AIN-93M (for maintenance). The article J. Nutr. 123: 1939-1951 (1993) discusses the rationale for the several revisions. Some of the changes include soybean oil rather than corn oil, the addition of other carbohydrate sources and lower sucrose, decreased phosphorus, cystine in place of methionine, inclusion of several trace mineral elements, and a few vitamin adjustments. The maintenance diet has less protein and fat.
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Q5: Can Harlan Teklad add test compounds to diets?
A: Yes, we can help you in adding a test compound or ingredient to a diet. This is often a convenient approach to dosing research animals. When adding a compound to a diet, there are some important safety and stability considerations. Please see customer supplied ingredients for more specific information.
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Q6: Why should I contact a Nutritionist?
A: A phone call or an email exchange with one of our staff will augment the information that you gather from the web site or published literature, and you are more likely to receive a diet that best meets your particular needs. We are careful to maintain confidentiality, and will sign formal agreements if necessary. Please contact us for consultation regarding your specific diet needs.
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Q7: What information will help in the design of a diet formula?
A: Advise us why the diet is needed, and for what animal species. Discuss the nutrients or ingredients of interest in as much detail as possible. Please avoid subjective descriptions such as "low, normal, and high" because these terms have different meanings to various researchers. Provide us with a copy of any existing formula to be duplicated or modified, and any journal article(s) upon which your research may be based. Let us know if the diet must be irradiated.
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Q8: What is the minimum order quantity?
A: Our minimum order (for diets) is 3 kg. This is particularly convenient when feeding small numbers of mice, especially diet that has contains your test compound. The minimum quantity for vitamin and mineral mixes is 500 g.
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Q9: How are custom research diets priced, and how can I place an order?
A: Prices are dependent on formula details, ingredient composition, order quantity, and form (pellet or powder). If you know the product code, contact customer service at 800•483•5523, 608•277•2066 (fax) or customerservice@teklad.com. If you are unsure of the product code, have a new request, or require other technical information, contact technical service at 800•483•5523, 608•277•2066 (fax) or askanutritionist@teklad.com.
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Q10: How are diets packaged?
A: Standard packaging includes two small size boxes (9 x 9 x 11 inches and 10 x 10 x 15 inches) that will fit up to 10 kg, and a larger box (12.5 x 12.5 x 17 inches) with inset handles that holds up to 20 kg. These durable boxes can withstand a variety of shipping conditions. Every container also includes a 3-mil poly liner to keep your research diet as fresh as possible. Vacuum packaging, heat seal packaging, and specific quantity packaging are also available at additional cost. Irradiated diets are double-bagged. Contact Customer Service for more information.
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Q11: How long after I place my order will I receive my diet?
A: Diets are custom made to fill each order. They are not inventoried. The typical lead-time between order and shipment is 10 business days, unless irradiation is required (add 10 business days). We can most often accommodate your rush production needs, for an additional fee. Contact Customer Service for more details.
Transit time depends on the type of delivery method used (regular ground, overnight, etc.). Weight and delivery method affect shipping costs, which are typically prepaid and added to the invoice. The exception to this is TD.88137, which for orders of 25 kg or less, is usually available within a week.
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Q12: What is the shelf life of a diet?
A: There is no definitive point where one is able to predict when a specific diet will spoil or become deficient in one or more nutrients. Custom research diets are perishable and should be refrigerated at 4°C (40°F) or lower (see Fullerton, et.al. J Nutr. 112:567-573, 1982). As a general guideline, diets can be stored this way for up to six months. It’s likely that many diets can be preserved even longer by freezing, perhaps up to a year; however, use of diets beyond the recommended use date will be subject to the protocols of your institution.
Custom research diets vary significantly in their formulation. There may be certain features of a diet that merit a shorter shelf-life. For instance, diets with more than 15% fat (wt/wt) would be better used within 3 months. If you have questions as to the shelf-life of your diet contact technical services at askanutritionist@teklad.com.
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Q13: Can custom research diets be irradiated?
A: Barrier facilities or certain animal models require sterile diet. Most custom research diets do not withstand autoclaving; however, we can arrange for qualified diets to be irradiated. The irradiation dose range is 2 -5 MRad, or 20-50 kGy. Nominal fees and extra time are involved. Please contact Customer Service for details about irradiation costs and additional lead-time. Vacuum packaging may be helpful in reducing irradiation-induced peroxide formation in high fat diets. Technical service can assist you in determining if a formula is suitable for irradiation. Irradiation will lead to selective vitamin loss, and it is our practice to increase the inclusion rate of certain vitamin mixes to ensure that the final diet contains sufficient vitamins. Irradiated diets are double-bagged.
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Q14: How can I order a diet supplied to someone by Harlan Teklad, and subsequently noted in a research article?
A: Some diet formulas are fairly common or generic, and probably are not considered confidential by those who use them, especially when authors provide a product number. Formulas might be difficult to trace without a product number, and then must be discussed with technical service. We will review each formula for history and confidentiality.
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Q15: Can Harlan Teklad manufacture a diet made by another company?
A: Provide us with at the very least a description, preferably the complete formula, and we’ll give you an assessment of our ability to make that formula.
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Q16: How does Harlan Teklad ensure quality and consistency?
A: Each formula is given a unique identification number and retains that identity among the thousands of formulas in our files. This assures the same formula will be used even years later. Upon production, a six-digit lot number is assigned that allows for traceability through all phases of diet production. These detailed production records are kept for every item produced. Quality-control samples are retained for nine months. Each lot of the major protein ingredients is analyzed for a number of nutrients to verify uniformity from lot to lot. Care is taken to retain reputable vendors for these refined ingredients.
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Q17: What about diets for species other than rats and mice?
A: We formulate and produce diets for all laboratory animal species, including rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, primates, dogs, and swine.
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Q18: Can any formula be made in pellet form?
A: There are limitations for pelleting diets. The level and type of fat, the carbohydrate composition, and the interaction of fat and carbohydrate will impact our ability to pellet a diet. Consult Technical Services for more information about specific formulas.
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Q19: What is "Vitamin-free" test casein?
A: "Vitamin-Free" Test Casein is an alcohol-extracted casein prepared from regular casein, and typically has 90-91% protein (%N x 6.38), 0.1% fat, and 4-6% moisture. The alcohol extraction reduces fat, fat soluble vitamins, and some of the B vitamins. This protein source is most appropriately used in vitamin deficient diets, and when researchers want to minimize "background fat" in a diet. We have prepared this specialty ingredient for many years, and continue to supply it to many labs. We will develop special pricing on request for large quantities. Advance notice is recommended for orders of 1,000 Kg or more. If you need this ingredient, consider Harlan Teklad as your preferred source. Please see our VFT Casein datasheet for more information about this product.
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Q20: Does Harlan Teklad sell diet ingredients?
Yes. Many of the same high-quality ingredients used to produce custom research diets can also be supplied to those who prepare their own diets. See Diet Ingredients for more information.
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