ALAT Training Course

1
ALAT Training Course

• Unit 4
• Scientific Fundamentals in Laboratory Animal
  Science

2
Animal Rooms

• Conventional
• No special precautions are taken to prevent the
  introduction of disease into the colony
• Barrier
• Special cages and procedures, like sterilizing
  bedding and use of filtered air in the rooms

3
Animal Rooms

• Macroenvironment
• Temperature (64-79º F or 18-26ºC)
• Ventilation (10-15 fresh-air changes/hr)
• Light intensity and duration (325 lux or 30-ft
  candles measured at 1 m or 3 ft from off the
  floor)
• 1212
• 1014 (breeding colonies)
• Humidity (30-70)
• Noise ( gt 85 dB causes stress responses)
• Other variables

4
Animal Rooms

• Microenvironment
• Cage level environment

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Bedding

• Availability
• Non-nutritive
• Absorbency
• Nontoxicity
• Comfort
• Disposability
• Uniform size

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Temperature
8
Humidity
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Ventilation

• Air balance is checked with an anemometer
• Positive Pressure
• Opening a door in a positive pressure room causes
  the air in the room to flow out toward the
  hallway (keep things out - bioexclusion)
• Negative Pressure
• Opening a door in a negative pressure room
  causes air the hallway to flow into the room
  (keep things in - biocontainment)

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Animal Room Construction

• Easy cleaning
• Nonslip, waterproof floors
• Slotted drain covers
• Floors sloped toward drains
• Walls and ceilings made of sealed concrete
• Surfaces frees of cracks and chipped paint
• Recommended door dimensions are 42 x 84 inches

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Facility Security

• Computerized card system
• Sign-in/sign-out log for visitors

12
Animal Facility Areas

• Cagewash
• Quarantine, conditioning, isolation areas
• Feed and bedding storage
• Equipment storages
• Personnel areas
• Procedure rooms
• Emergency backup power

13
Hazardous Agents

• Research may involve the use of materials or
  procedures that present a physical, chemical,
  biological (biohazard) or radiological hazard to
  staff and laboratory animals

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Dead Animal Storage and Disposal
15
Caging Materials
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Microisolation System
17
Hooded microisolation workbench
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Primate Caging
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Gang Cages
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Transport Cages
22
Feeding and Watering Accessories
J-shaped feeder
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Automatic Watering System
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Cagewashing Equipment
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Cage and bottle washer
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Hygiene in the Laboratory Animal Facility

• Sterilization
• Destruction of all organisms on an object
• Disinfection
• Reduction of the number of pathogenic
  microorganisms on an object to a harmless level
• Sanitation
• Reduction of number of microorganisms on a an
  object to an acceptable public health standard

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Sterilization
Time 15 min Temp 250ºF Pressure 15 lbs/sq in
(psi)
Autoclave
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Disinfection

• -cidal
• A disinfectant with killing action
• -static
• A disinfectant that inhibits microorganism growth

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Disinfection

• Commonly use chemicals
• Phenols
• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
• Quanternary ammonias

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Sanitization

• Chemical Handling Guidelines
• Store chemicals in cool, central area
• Follow the instructions on the label
• Never use a container that is not labeled
• Never mix two chemicals together unless directed
  by the manufacturer to do so
• Do not accept product samples unless they will be
  evaluated quickly

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Cage Changes

• to provide a healthy environment for an animal,
  in accord with its normal behavior and
  physiologic characteristics

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Hygiene in the Laboratory Animal Facility

• Animal Equipment Cleaning Techniques
• Animal Room Cleaning Schedules and Techniques
• Other Equipment Changes
• Environmental Monitoring
• Vermin Control

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Personal Safety and Hygiene

• Protective Clothing
• Footwear
• Ear Protection
• Eye and Face Protection
• Face Masks
• Uniforms
• Gloves

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Personal Hygiene Practices

• Store and consume food, candy, gum and beverages
  only in designated areas of the facility
• Keep hands away from face
• Keep personal items in designated areas
• Always wash hands before leaving the animal
  facility
• Wash hands after removing dirty protective
  clothing
• Bring to the attention of your supervisor any
  situation jeopardizes good hygiene