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To comply with the AS's review of the plan and balance the daily mouse care costs – AScore has, as approved by the second User Committee meeting on October 1, 2026, adjusted the fees for certain previously free services. See Appendix 1 for details. Key changes are summarized below:

 

I. Animal Care

1. Starting from January 1, 2027, animals from the NCB / Biolabsco will be introduced into the facility by the user (AScore also offers a paid service for caretakers to introduce animals – https://ascore.sinica.edu.tw/posts/191640).

To ensure the safety of animals – caretakers will spray disinfectant on the animal cartons and place them in the designated places within each animal room. Users could choose a convenient time on the day of entry (not overnight) to introduce the animals into the animal room by oneself. But animals cannot be taken directly from outside and brought in by users.

2. Starting from January 1, 2027, for animal welfare reasons, users who reserve transport cages will be charged a fee of NT$50 per cage with a complete set of equipments including food/water dishes/beddings. See https://ascore.sinica.edu.tw/posts/184558.

Transport boxes made by paper are still free.

3. Starting from January 1, 2027, the daily raising fee for Area C on the 9th floor will be NT$15 per cage, the same price as Area A and B.

The fees for Area A and B will not be increased.

4. Starting from January 1, 2027, the IVIS fee for Area C on the 9th floor will be NT$1,000. AScore will provide free isoflurane gas anesthesia solution (IVIS only).

 

II. Veterinary Care

1. Fines for Handling Abnormalities

Starting from January 1, 2027, if a user fails to address an animal's abnormalities (e.g., near death/paralysis/malocclusion/oversize tumor not yet euthanized...) after being notified by a veterinarian, the veterinarian may handle the abnormalities directly and fine the user upon PI's consent.

 

III. Point Counting for Violations (See Annex 1 for details)

1. Starting from January 1, 2027, the original point counting method for AScore will be cancelled, and will be changed in accordance with the IACUC guidelines.

(1) Based on the IACUC's "Classification", for items in Category (1), if improvement are completed within 24 hours (is proactively reported to AScore and bilateral confirmation is conducted), the violation points will not be included in the accumulation. For example: delay weaning/more than two litters of pup...

(2) If the issue is not resolved within 24 hours and the user still fails to improve after being reminded by P.I., or if the user violates Category (2) or (3), the user committee will be notified directly to vote on the point counting and the results will be uploaded to the IACUC.

 

Thank you very much for your understanding, assistance, and cooperation.

AScore