FacilityDesignHousingEquipment&Management 2023-2.ppsx

Facility Design, Housing, Equipment and Management Facility Design Determined by: – Nature of research activities – Type of animals to be housed – Available space and funds Good animal care is dependent upon a well-designed, well-constructed and properly maintained facility. Facility Design Faciliti...

Facility Design, Housing, Equipment and Management Facility Design Determined by: – Nature of research activities – Type of animals to be housed – Available space and funds Good animal care is dependent upon a well-designed, well-constructed and properly maintained facility. Facility Design Facilities are typically constructed or renovated to support a specific area of research (e.g., cancer research) or type of animal (e.g., transgenic or immunocompromised rodents). But the research conducted within a facility frequently evolves over time with the arrival and departure of research groups, scientific advances and changes in funding. Facility Design So research facilities need to be designed to allow flexibility in their use over time without large‐scale and expensive renovations. Involvement of broad range of knowledgeable individuals is required: – Architects – Engineers – Animal care personnel – Veterinarians – Biosafety professionals – Researchers – Building and facility maintenance engineers Facility Design Single-level facilities are generally preferable over multi‐floor facilities as they avoid the need for elevators: – Can be costly to design, build and maintain – Can inhibit efficient movements within the facility – Can negatively affect building HVAC operations Interstitial space allows maintenance without entering animal-occupied areas – Are physically separated from the animal facility – Contain the wiring, ductwork, piping and other system components that support adjacent levels Facility Design Facilities are divided into functional areas – Animal housing – Animal procedure areas – Specialized “labs” (Sx, ICU, Nx, clin path, rads) – Receiving and storage areas for food and bedding – Cage wash and sterilization – Waste storage – Containment facilities to support use of hazardous biological, physical, or chemical agents – Administrative support – Personnel (locker rooms, lunch/break rooms) Facility Design Functional adjacencies – Purposeful positioning of areas based on use or function – Examples  Bulk feed and bedding storage near dock  Cage wash (noisy, vibrations) distant to rodent breeding rooms  Offices, conference rooms and breakrooms should be separate from areas of hazards, but still accessible. Facility Design Corridors must be wide enough to allow movement of equipment and animals – 6 to 8 feet wide Corridor systems – Single corridors (most commonly used these days) – “Clean” and “dirty” corridors (space intensive) Need adequate space for: Facility Design Emergency power sources for critical building and animal support systems to ensure continuous operations without risks to personnel, animal health and research integrity – Gas generators – Uninterrupted power sources (UPS) – Batteries Robust and reliable IT systems – Wired and Wi‐Fi internet – Cybersecurity features to protect systems and data Equipment and systems for staff health and safety – Emergency eyewashes and safety showers – Active waste anesthetic gas (WAG) scavenging systems – Oxygen monitors in areas where a cryogen gas (e.g., liquid nitrogen) is stored or handled – Seismic restraint devices to stabilize equipment Facility Design - Interior Surfaces Walls, ceilings, floors and doors must be: –Durable, seamless, impervious to moisture and fire resistant Smooth to enable sanitation, but slip proof floors Coving of floor helps facilitate cleaning Sloped to drains – at least 4”, grates –Able to withstand cleaning agents, high‐pressure sprays and impacts by carts and cage racks Metal or rubber wall/corner guards Recessed handles and kickplates on doors; self-closing doors –Be constructed to minimize sound transmission and vibrations espec w/ loud equipment and/or when housing multiple spp. Sound insulating doors, walls, panels Isolate noise & vibration-producing equipment from animals –Door sweeps on doors to help prevent entry of vermin (insects, wild animals) into the facility and escape of research animals Stainless steel wall & corner guards Rubber wall guards Stainless steel door kickplate & handle guard SounBreak ™ Sound Barriers Microenviroment & Macroenvironment Microenvironment = environmental conditions within the animal’s cage or pen Macroenvironment = environmental conditions in the room in general –Variables in the macroenvironment directly affect the microenvironment by inducing: Stress Decreased breeding Disease –Variables include: Temperature Humidity Ventilation Light intensity and duration (light cycles) Noise Odors (avoid using lotions, perfumes, disinfectants w/ strong smells) Facility Design - Lighting Wavelength (spectrum) and intensity –Direct effect on animal physiology –Recommended ranges for both are available for many spp. Fixtures must be easily sanitized and water resistant Automated, monitored system to control day/night cycles –12 hr light/12 hr dark or 14 hr light/10 hr dark –No windows in animal rooms If there are windows in the door, corridor lighting must be excluded during the night phase of the animals’ photoperiod as even minute levels of light can disrupt the circadian rhythm of many spp. –Fully programmable electronic lighting control systems are preferred over mechanical timers as they are less prone to failure and can be modified only by authorized personnel. Facility Design - Lighting Special lighting features are available: –Red lights that are only minimally perceived by rodents to be used by personnel during the rodent dark cycle –High‐intensity lighting (“task lighting”) used by personnel during brief periods to facilitate in‐ room tasks –“Dawn‐to‐dusk” lighting that slowly increases or decreases light intensity to emulate sunrise and sunset Facility Design – HVAC & Airflow HVAC must be: – Reliable and able to closely regulate temperature and humidity in all housing areas – Capable of maintaining room temperatures within +/- 2°F of the temperature set point  72-80°F (22-26°C) recommended – Capable of maintaining relative humidity within 30-70% (recommended for most common terrestrial laboratory animal species) 10–15 room air changes per hour (ACH) recommended – But optimal room ventilation rates are heavily influenced by various factors including animal numbers, animal species and housing systems  Modify to meet specific needs Facility Design – Airflow & Differential Pressures Need consistent directional airflow and maintenance of differential air pressure between adjacent areas to control cross‐contamination by airborne particles Positive Pressure: more air is pumped into the room (supply) than out (exhaust). Opening the door makes air flow outward. – Surgery and specific pathogen‐free animal housing rooms Negative pressure: more air is pumped out of the room than into it. Opening the door makes air flow into the room keeping pathogens from escaping into adjacent areas. – Animal quarantine and nonhuman primate housing rooms Laminar air flow systems combined with high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration of air exhausted from Wallmounted room differentia l pressure indicator Facility Design – Monitoring Need environmental monitoring systems to monitor animal housing room parameters (temperature, humidity, airflow) and alert staff if/when parameters are not within the predetermined Must have remote notification of staff 24/7 Fire alarm systems should be designed to minimally impact animals while still adequately alerting staff. – Fire alarms that are audible to humans yet outside the hearing range of rodents – Red strobe lights that are visible to humans but not to rodents – Federal and local fire safety ordinances still must be followed and alternative alarm systems must be approved by appropriate fire safety regulators. Wallmounted room environme ntal monitoring probe Rodent room ceilingmounted fire alarm strobe with red cover Common Facility Classifications The overall design and operational procedures implemented at each animal facility are influenced by the level of biosecurity deemed necessary to protect animals, humans and the environment. Biosecurity = procedures or processes used to prevent the introduction or spread of harmful biological organisms within an area Factors contributing to this determination include: – Immune status of the animals – Operational practices and facility design of animal sources – Frequency/methods of animal transportation into & Common Facility Classifications Conventional and Barrier Facilities – Relatively loose categorization and precise definitions differ between institutions – “Conventional”  Relatively free movement of animals and supplies into and within facility  Less restrictive in preventing the introduction or spread of unwanted microbial organisms  Excluded agents may be limited only to highly pathogenic zoonotic organisms Common Facility Classifications – “Barrier”  Designed to exclude contamination of an area and maintain animals in a disease-free condition  Majority of institutions now favor barrier facilities over conventional facilities for most of their animal colonies including rodents, fish, large animals and nonhuman primates  Common design features – Interlocking double doors (only one opens at a time) – Connected rodent receiving rooms separated by a pass‐through biological safety cabinet for the clean transfer of rodents into the facility – Equipment decontamination chambers or tunnels – Large capacity, pass-through autoclaves – Personnel entry areas (locker rooms) and procedures; PPE Pass through with interlockin g, opposing doors (only one door visible in this picture) Common Facility Classifications Gnotobiotic facilities – “Gnotobiotic” Animals in whom all forms of life are known Includes both germ-free animal and animals with a defined flora – “Germ-free” or “axenic” Completely free of all organisms – “Defined flora” Colonized only by known or purposefully administered organisms Common Facility Classifications - Gnotobiotic facilities Housed in specially designed sterile caging systems called isolators: – Semi-rigid or flexible-film types – Chamber made of clear plastic material – Kept under positive pressure with respect to the surrounding room and supplied with HEPA‐filtered air – Workers manipulate items by using sleeved gloves sealed to ports – Provides a sterile environment Common Facility Classifications Biohazard facilities – Designed to prevent exposure of animal populations, humans and the environment to infectious organisms – Relative risk of an infectious organism is determined in part by its routes of transmission, severity of disease it produces, susceptibility to treatments and by its natural presence within the local environment Common Facility Classifications -Biohazard Facilities Biological safety levels (BSL) describe the recommended facility features, practices and techniques and safety equipment appropriate for containing an organism within a laboratory. Animal biosafety levels (ABSL) outline recommended containment measures for housing and handling animals administered an infectious Common Facility Classifications Biohazard Facilities ABSL1, ABSL2, ABSL3, ABSL4 – ABSL1: lowest level of risk and intensity of recommended containment measures – ABSL4: greatest level of risk and intensity of containment measures needed – Rare – about a dozen present in the US; only a few dozen in existence worldwide – ABSL1 and ABSL2 containment facilities are common in animal research facilities A formal process of risk assessment should be conducted to determine appropriate biosafety Common Facility Classifications - Biohazard Facilities Design features may include: – HVAC systems with HEPA filtration – Autoclaves – Biological safety cabinets – Handwashing sinks – Self-closing doors Redundant backup systems to maintain confinement for critical building systems Restricted access Common Facility Classifications - Biohazard Facilities Personnel protection and environmental containment of biohazardous materials is provided by: 1) Primary containment begins at the building design and engineering level  Airlocks, appropriate construction and HVAC systems 2) Personnel practices and procedures  Entry & exit procedures; waste disposal practices 3) Personal protective equipment (PPE)  For ABSL2, this may include disposable gowns, multiple pairs of gloves, shoe covers and masks and/or eyewear for mucous membrane protection.  ABSL3 may require full body coverage and face protection with respirator use.  ABSL4 commonly requires use of a positive pressure ventilated suit with attached boots. Common Facility Classifications Biohazard Facilities Waste material must be appropriately decontaminated or sterilized prior to disposal – Autoclaves – Gas or vapor decontamination chambers – Incinerators – Digestors Housing Type depends on: – Species being housed – Nature of the research – Design of the facility Specific minimum space recommendations for group and individually housed animals are provided in multiple documents including the Animal Welfare Act (APHIS, 2017), the Guide, and the Ag Guide (FASS, 2010). – Must have enough space to stand up, turn, lie down and perform any other normal postural adjustments – Most measured by floor area, length and height – Does not include space occupied by feed, water bowl or litter pans unless considered “living space” for the animal HOUSING Primary enclosure: refers to the cage in which the animal is housed Size depends on: – – – – Body weight Height or length Exercise requirements Enrichment needs Caging must be: – – – – Escape-proof Well ventilated Smooth-surfaced and free of cracks Durable and able to withstand repeated sanitation HOUSING Caging material chosen is based on use, frequency of cage changes, autoclave needs, budget and need for disposal. Plastic materials include: – Polysulphone/*Polyphenylsulfone: most common plastic used for rodent cages and fish tanks; clear, colors  Can withstand extreme autoclave temperatures (*can withstand over 2,000 autoclaving cycles)  *Used for work with high risk infectious agents – Polycarbonate: first plastic compound used for rodent cages and aquatic tanks; clear  High-impact strength Housing – Plastic Caging Materials – Polystyrene: non-durable plastic typically used for single use caging  Disposable  Intended for use with biohazard or chemical hazard protocols  Also used for shipping – Polypropylene: used for suspended rodent cages, rabbit cages and aquatic tanks  Shatter resistant  Opaque (provides breeding animals more seclusion)  Less noise (rabbits) Housing – Metal Caging Materials Metals include: – Stainless steel  Most common  More expensive but doesn’t corrode – Aluminum  Lighter weight but not as durable – Galvanized metal  Rarely used due to corrosion  Contains zinc also which can be toxic Housing – Caging Systems Shoebox-style cages – Most commonly used to house murine rodents (mice & rats) – Plastic, open rectangular box-like cage – Stainless steel lid with a V-shaped trough to hold food and a water bottle or pouch – Solid bottomed with a layer of bedding  Absorbs wastes  Provides enrichment Housing - Rodents Microisolation (MI) cages – Refinement of shoebox cage system – Utilizes a plastic top with an integral filter over the cage – Creates a barrier or containment system within the cage preventing exchange of allergens and microorganisms between the cage and the environment MI cages can be used as: Static (without forced ventilation) – Placed on rack or suspended shelving unit Ventilated – Attached to a ventilated system Static MI Cage Housing – Rodent MI Individually ventilated cages (IVCs) – Refinement to static microisolation caging system – Constructed with a port and docking system – Continuous airflow is delivered into the cage via an air delivery port in the cage rack – Provides:  Containment and microbiological protection for the rodent  Constant air exchange that decreases buildup of ammonia, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. – May allow decreased frequency of cage cleaning – Automatic monitoring system with alarms  If ventilation fails, CO2 builds up and animals must be relocated immediately. Housing – Ventilated Systems Ventilated caging systems have become increasingly popular: – Improved environment for animals – Decreased human allergen exposure – Allows a greater density of caging within a given space Housing - Other Small Mammals Front-opening, drawer-type cages – Used to house rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and ferrets – Individual cages or suspended in multiple-cage racks – Made of stainless steel or plastic Drawer-type cages allow examination of animal without removing them from the enclosure – Slide forward on the rack; rack shelf serves as lid – Dirty drawer replaced with new clean on Have solid or slotted bar or perforated flooring with trays under the flooring to collect excreta Perforated & wire-bottomed not recommended – May produce foot problems – Rodents prefer solid-bottom cages – Solid resting platforms may be offered Housing - Other Small Mammals Social animals should be group housed whenever possible: – – – – Large enclosures Removable walls/partitions Installed openings between individual cages Floor pens Animal and personnel safety as well as ease of husbandry and sanitation must be considered. The influence of animal behaviors exhibited during group housing should be considered on research results. Animal innate behavior and past housing experiences may strongly influence the success of group housing arrangements. Housing - Nonhuman Primates Different caging configurations: – Cages on racks – Cages attached to the wall – Modular cages with sliding panel – Squeeze cages (back panel slides forward to safely restrain animal) – Room‐sized group housing pens  Equipped with removable side, floor or ceiling panels allowing flexibility for co‐ housing one or more animals within multiple cages  Useful when animals must be temporarily separated each day, such as for feeding or Nonhuman Primate Squeeze Cage Housing - Nonhuman Primates Socially housed whenever possible – Individual, pair or group housing – Indoor and outdoor enclosures – Designed to allow flexibility in enclosure size and connection of adjacent enclosures All housing contains: – Perches, climbing structures, other enrichment devices  Resting boards, swings, puzzle feeders, mirrors, hammocks – Some places may have a “playground” or activity area Housing – Large Animals Applicable regulations influenced by research type Agricultural setting - may be appropriate for the conduct of some biomedical research Indoor research facility - when greater control of environmental parameters is required – Engineered sound barriers (e.g., sound‐ insulating walls and ceilings) and robust room ventilation systems help contain noise and odors Rooms and aisles should be sized not only to accommodate animal enclosures, but also to Housing – Large Animals Common large animal enclosures include: – Freestanding, mobile cages – Cages permanently installed within a room – Large enclosures that rest on the room’s flooring and may be attached to the room’s walls – Pens or runs with raised flooring or incorporating the room floor surface  Pens usually have short sides ~ 40 “ high (typically for pigs)  Vertical bars needed as pigs can climb horizontal bars  Runs & kennels have higher sides (5-6‘) or extend to the ceiling May have movable, interchangeable panels to Housing – Large Animals May have swinging doors to allow indoor/outdoor access Flooring and bedding utilized according to species – Raised flooring include reinforced fiberglass slatted panels and plastic‐coated metal grate panels – Slats and grates appropriately sized to prevent injury – Must provide good footing without causing skin abrasions – Straw or pine shavings for bedding Sloping floors with drains equipped with grates or baskets – Vary from small, centrally located drains to trench drains extending along entire walls Drinking water – Trench drain with fiberglass grating Trench drain, grating removed to show drain basket Housing – Large Animals Social species should be housed in compatible groups whenever possible. If group housing is not possible, animals should be provided visual, auditory and/or olfactory contact with others of the same species. Animals should be provided opportunities to play and exercise. Housing – Large Animals Maintaining large animals within a research facility is physically demanding and labor intensive. All equipment and procedures should be regularly evaluated and refined to maximize personnel safety and minimize ergonomic injuries. Housing – Specialized Systems Metabolism cages – Used in studies where urine or feces collection is required – Has funnel-like apparatus under cage to separate feces and urine – Drinking valve is located on outside of cage to avoid contamination of collected urine with water Exercise cages – Studies involving nutrition or exercise – Form of enrichment Metabolism Cage Housing – Specialized Systems Transport, transfer and shipping cages – Temporary housing used to relocate animals – Sometimes called “jump boxes” – Typically made of cardboard or plastic with ventilation ports Shipping containers have: – Design features to ensure comfort and well-being of animals in transit – Live animal signage with arrows delineating correct cage positioning – Screened windows with filters to reduce contamination – Top or side offsets to ensure adequate air circulation Disposable MI Shoebox Cage Caging Requirements Allow normal physiologic and behavioral activities Allow animal to remain clean and dry Allow adequate ventilation Provide access to feed and water Allow easy filling, changing and cleaning of food and water utensils Allow social interaction Allow staff to observe animals without disturbing them Environmental Enrichment The Guide places increased emphasis on the appropriate provision of environmental enrichment to help meet the psychological needs of all species. “The primary aim of environmental enrichment is to enhance animal well‐being by providing animals with sensory and motor stimulation, through structures and resources that facilitate the expression of species‐typical behaviors and promote psychological well‐being through physical exercise, manipulative activities and cognitive challenges according to species‐ Environmental Enrichment May include cage complexities that: – Maximize use of existing space (shelves, perches, swings) – Increase an animal’s interaction with its environment – Water‐filled children's pool, running wheels, puzzle feeders; shelters (plastic or disposable huts); nesting material; food treats; items that animals can handle and manipulate (KONG®, Nylabone®, gnawing sticks) Enrichment items should be: – Nontoxic and safe – Sanitizable, if reusable Environmental Enrichment Animals may interpret an object in a very different way than a human may predict, resulting in unintended effects. – Enrichment items may induce unintended effects such as increased territoriality and aggression or physical trauma Controversy exists regarding which enrichment items provide the greatest benefit and least risk to the animals. This is largely complicated by the difficulty of interpreting an animal's response to or desire for an object. Therefore, the use of all enrichment items must be critically evaluated. Physical and mental development can be directly affected by the absence or provision of enrichment Food and Bedding Materials Must be obtained from vendors and suppliers who ensure the quality of their products Storage areas should be kept clean to minimize introduction of disease, parasites and disease vectors Food needs to be: – Palatable – Uncontaminated – Nutritionally adequate Food Dry pelleted foods – Most can be used up to 6 months after manufacture – Refrigeration preserves nutritional quality and lengthens shelf life – Unopened bags  Stacked – By milling dates – Off the floor on pallets, racks or carts – Positioned away from wall to facilitate cleaning and observing evidence of pests  Rotated to ensure animals are fed fresh food Food Dry pelleted foods – Open bags  Stored in sealed, vermin-proof container  Protect from moisture and contaminants Purified and chemically defined diets – Stored at 39°F or lower – Less stable than natural-ingredient diets – Shelf life may be less than 6 months Food Autoclavable and irradiated diets – Adjusted in nutrient concentrations and ingredients to ensure adequate nutritional level – Date of sterilization should be recorded on autoclaved package Perishable foods – Stored in the refrigerator – Utilized quickly for product freshness Water Essential nutrient – Makes up 2/3 of body weight – A loss of 10% of body water results in death – Key component of blood Water To provide standardized water quality and eliminate extraneous contaminants, drinking water may be treated by a number of methods: – – – – – – Filtration UV lighting Hyperchlorination Acidification Reverse osmosis Autoclaving For most agricultural animals, use of well or city tap water is sufficient whereas immunocompromised animals may need water purified by reverse osmosis and then slightly acidified or chlorinated to inhibit bacterial growth Watering Equipment Bottles with sipper tubes or water pouches – Commonly utilized when water needs to be monitored or measured or when medications or compounds need to be given Packets of gelled water (H3CO2) are useful when transporting or shipping rodents Automated watering systems have replaced use of water bottles/bowls in many facilities – Less labor intensive – Reduce ergonomic issues inherent in bottle handling Water Pouch Automated Watering Systems Water is delivered from the water source to rooms, usually through stainless steel piping affixed to walls or ceilings – Flexible water hoses connect these water system pipes to mobile cage racks or room pens. Water terminates at valves positioned within individual cages or pens. – Animals can then physically activate these one‐way valves to receive water Fresh water is automatically flushed through the system daily to prevent stagnation Periodic sanitation of the system with a bleach-based solution is still required periodically Require continual monitoring and maintenance to ensure proper function Empty animal housing room with wall-mounted automated drinking system supply line & floor trench drain Two water recoil hoses attached to stainless steel piping of a recirculating automated drinking water system Bottle Filler Bedding Materials Bedding material – Varies and depends upon:  Species  Housing method  Experimental conditions – Selected on:  Ability to provide comfort  Absorbency  Availability  Cost  Low dust factor  Ease of disposal Bedding Material Bedding material should be: – Nontoxic – Nonnutritive – Nonpalatable – Stored off the floor on pallets, racks or carts Bedding Dispenser Facility Equipment The use of specialized equipment is required to provide high‐quality care and sanitation in an efficient manner. – The level of cleanliness required of rooms and items is influenced by their intended use. Definitions from the Guide: – Cleaning - removes excessive amounts of excrement, dirt and debris – Sanitation - maintenance of environmental conditions conducive to health and well‐being; washing away (reducing) microbes – Disinfection – reduces or eliminates unacceptable concentrations of microorganisms; destroy (-cidal) or inhibit (static) microbial growth Facility Equipment Personnel should be advised of safety issues inherent in washroom operations – – – – – – Noise Heat and chemical exposure Wet floors Performance of repetitive motions Heavy equipment movement Exposure to aerosolized:  Bedding materials  Animal dander  Fur  Dust Negative pressure HEPA-filtered cage dumping systems, safe work practices and PPE should be used Cage Washers Rack – Used to clean and sanitize large pieces equipment like caging racks, shelving units and portable kennels Cabinet – Smaller version of rack washer – Resembles an oversized dishwasher – Easier access to internal parts – Require less space than tunnel/rack washer Tunnel – Equipment/caging is carried on a conveyer belt from one end of the machine thru each Cage Washers For each type of washer, personnel place items in the washer chamber and the machine then performs a series of washing and rinsing cycles, followed by a drying cycle Specially designed lidded baskets or optional washer components are available for washing small cage components such as environmental enrichment items, cage cardholders, water bottles and sipper tubes. Cabinet Washer Bottle Washer Tunnel Washer Cage Washers Designed to control wash water and dryer temperatures, timing of cycles, detergent and/or acid application Utilize a combination of water and heat, with or without the addition of chemical detergents, to sanitize items When only heat is used, 180°F is suggested for the final rinse to achieve sanitation Cage Washers Methods to assess effectiveness of sanitation – Temperature test strips placed on equipment – RODAC (replicate organism detection & counting) plate testing  Measures bacterial colonies present on a surface – ATP bioluminescent technology  Measures the presence of adenosine triphosphate, a molecule present in all living organisms Equipment logs should be kept – Equipment failures and repair – Sanitation effectiveness Autoclaves Small, single‐door autoclaves – Similar to those used in medical clinics and laboratories – To sterilize small items such as surgical and lab supplies Bulk autoclaves – For large items and large quantities of items, such as full carts of rodent caging materials – Pass-through autoclaves equipped with doors on opposing ends of their sterilization chamber  Can traverse a wall between rooms containing non‐ sterile and sterile items  Frequently used in rodent cage wash facilities where clean cage components are loaded into the autoclave from the washroom, sterilized and then removed into a Autoclaves Safety features and procedures are essential to protect personnel working with and near autoclaves – Posted safety signage – Prevent personnel entrapment  Easy-release door latches – Stop machine operation quickly and easily  Emergency shutoff devices Laminar Flow Change Stations Rodent cage changes (movement of animals from soiled to clean cages) are performed within laminar flow hoods (LFHs) designed to protect animals from potential airborne contaminants present in the room. Air passing over the work surface is partially filtered before it’s recirculated within the hood, so some protection of personnel from airborne particulates originating from the cage/animals is provided with airflow in the vertical plane LFHs are not comparable to biological safety cabinets (BSCs) in the level of protection they provide to animals or personnel and are not appropriate to contain hazards or provide a sterile work area Mobile LFH Vertical Laminar Flow Hood For Changing Microisolation Cages Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) Protect personnel, the environment and items within the work area Multiple types based on the pattern of air circulation and HEPA filtration within the cabinet – Class II BSCs are used in most animal research facilities requiring ABSL2 or ABSL3 containment In all types, supply air is drawn from the room and HEPA filtered prior to delivery to the work area; air from the work area is again HEPA filtered prior to its recirculation within the Class II, type A2 BSC Twosided BSC Class III (Glove Box) Imaging Techniques Digital x-ray imaging – Faxitron animal imaging and irradiation systems have been designed for use specifically with small rodents  Produce a highly magnified and clear resolution image of the field of interest – Need high milliamperage (e.g., 200‐ or 300‐mA), low peak voltage (kVp) and the capability of small incremental changes with small rodents Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Computed tomography (CT) Positron emission tomography (PET) Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan Facility Management Variety of administrative duties required for operation of facility – Management  Budget  Personnel – Recordkeeping – Preparation of standard operating procedures – Execution of occupational health and safety program – Oversight of facility activities  Ordering supplies and equipment Facility Management Charges for housing animals – Support the majority of operational costs – Per diem (per-day) fee  Cost to maintain one animal (or one cage of animals) for one day  Calculated by determining cost – Incurred for husbandry – Other services provided by the animal facility Facility Management Recordkeeping – Required by regulatory agencies – Need to be up to date with sufficient detail to assure good animal care – Computerized programs enable capture of information  Daily animal census using radiofrequency identification systems  Per diem charges  Protocols  Health records Facility Management Resources must be used efficiently for facility to operate effectively Personnel must be trained in: – Standard operating procedures (SOP) – Basic knowledge of species used – Hazards and potential risks of job  Humane handling  Restraint  Euthanasia Occupational Health and Safety Programs Potential Hazards – Physical hazards  Animal bites  Needle sticks – Biological hazards  Infectious agents  Toxins – Chemical hazards  Carcinogens  Cleaning chemicals – Radiation  X-rays  Lasers Occupational Health and Safety Programs (OHSP) Employers are required to provide safe and healthy working conditions. Institutions must establish and maintain an OHSP. Control and prevention are key. Laboratory Animal Allergies (LAA) Occupational health concern – 33% or more of handlers develop LAA – Exposure to animal allergenic proteins  Fur  Dander  Saliva  Urine Laboratory Animal Allergies (LAA) Each facility must establish a program of risk assessment and control. LAA program components include: – Engineering controls – Administrative controls – Use of PPE LAA program is operated jointly by the animal facility administration and the institution’s office of environmental/occupational health and safety. THE END! (finally)