LABORATORY ANIMAL MICROENVIRONMENT PRODUCTS
SPARCOBB®
The Controlled Micro-environment : Corn Cob Bedding for Laboratory Animals
Bedding is not merely what lies beneath the animal. It is part of the animal's microenvironment
Since 2007, SPARCOBB® has been developed specifically for laboratory animal housing, beginning with a collaboration with a German company.
SPARCOBB® is a laboratory-grade corn cob bedding material manufactured from carefully selected corn cobs through controlled processing to achieve consistent particle characteristics, high absorbency and low dust generation.
For nearly two decades, SPARCOBB® has been supplied to leading research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organisations in India and internationally.
Trusted by Scientists for decades
SPARCOBB® has been supplied repeatedly to premier scientific and biomedical institutions including:
BARC • IISc • JNCASR • NIMHANS • TANUVAS • TIFR • NISERs • NIPERs • AIIMSs • ILS • CMC • NCBS • SCRI • CCRH • ICGEB • IGIB • ACBR • IITs • CCMB • IMTECH • NBRC • NIRRH
as well as pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organisations.
From a Natural Material to a Controlled Laboratory Animal Bedding
Ordinary agricultural corn cob material is not laboratory bedding.
SPARCOBB® is processed specifically for laboratory animal applications, with emphasis on:
Particle Size Consistency
Excellent Absorbency
Low Dust Generation
Moisture Management
Ammonia Control
Processing control
Batch traceability
Designed to minimise the unpredictable variants of the laboratory animal microenvironment.
From India to the world
Since 2007, SPARCOBB® has evolved from a laboratory bedding initiative into a specialised product supplied to research environments in India and overseas.
Exported to:
Australia • Singapore • South Korea • Kuwait
Three particle Sizes: 2-3 mm, 3-4 mm and 4-6 mm
One Bedding. Different Colony Requirements
Laboratory animal facilities operate under different housing, biosecurity and preparation protocols.
SPARCOBB® is available through different processing pathways so that facilities can select the format that aligns with their bedding material sterility levels, colony management and environmental-control requirements.
SPARCOBB® AU: AUTOCLAVABLE
Laboratory-grade SPARCOBB® designed for facilities incorporating validated in-house autoclaving procedures.
SPARCOBB® IR: INFRA RED + MICROWAVE DISINFESTED
SPARCOBB® processed using an Infrared + Microwave disinfestation process.
*Process Patent Pending.
SPARCOBB® GAMMA: GAMMA IRRADIATED
SPARCOBB® processed by gamma irradiation at different doses for facilities requiring irradiated bedding.
Why bedding matters
In laboratory animal facilities, bedding is part of the environment in which animals live, rest, move, feed and interact.
Conventional materials such as sawdust and rice husk may present practical challenges involving dust, moisture, odour, particle variability and incoming-material consistency.
SPARCOBB® has been developed with these laboratory requirements in mind.
Low Dust:
Designed to minimise unnecessary dust particulate cloud generation.
High Absorbency:
Helps manage urine and moisture within the cage environment, by keeping the surface dry.
Consistent Particle Size:
Controlled particle sizing for a more comfortable bedding environment
Low Odour:
Selected cobs with honey comb structurs help Ammonia absorption & help manage unpleasant odours.
Eco-friendly:
Produced from 100% natural raw materials, totally biodegradable
Batch Traceability:
Certificate of Analysis supplied with every batch.
Designed for Research Animal Facilities
SPARCOBB® is suitable for:
- Conventional Animal Facilities
- SPF Colonies
- Barrier Facilities
- Transgenic Colonies
- Knockout Mouse Colonies
- Breeding Colonies
- Gnotobiotic Facilities
- Pharmaceutical Research Facilities
- Contract Research Organisations
- Academic and Institutional Research Facilities
THE BEHAVIOURAL MICROENVIRONMENT
SPARNEST™
The Controlled Micro-environment : Nesting Material for Laboratory Animals
A laboratory animal does not simply occupy its cage. It interacts with its environment.
SPARNEST™ is a specially processed, zigzag-folded and cut cellulose-rich paper nesting material developed to provide laboratory rodents with an accessible material for natural nesting and environmental interaction.
Nesting is an important component of the laboratory animal's behavioural environment.
SPARNEST™ is designed to make that environment more intentional.
Encourages Nesting Behaviour
Laboratory rodents naturally gather, manipulate, arrange and compress materials to construct nests.
SPARNEST™ provides an appropriate material for:
Nest construction
Environmental interaction
Thermal insulation
Behavioural expression
Environmental enrichment
Maternal and neonatal nesting activity
Designed for the Laboratory Animal Environment:
SPARNEST™ is manufactured from carefully selected paper sources and processed into a pleated, zigzag-folded and cut format.
Clean
Manufactured specifically for laboratory animal use.
Soft
Designed to provide a suitable tactile material for nesting behaviour.
Compressible
Allows animals to gather and manipulate the material during nest construction.
Low dust
Designed to minimise unnecessary particulate generation.
Autoclavable
Suitable for facilities incorporating autoclaving into their preparation procedures.
Gamma Irradtion Available
Available in gamma-irradiated format.
Batch Documentation
Certificate of Analysis supplied.
