Animal rooms, requirements

When the infectious agent(s)in use in the animal room requires special entry provisions (e.g., theneedforimmunizations and respirators) a hazard warning sign, incorporating the... 

Another aspect of the GLP requirements that is often overlooked when only electronic systems are used is that, in the event of a system failure, a back-up paper version should be available and reasonably located nearby. For example, should an electronic SOP system fail, it is unlikely that a government inspector will consider one paper copy of the SOP adequate for a large facility that includes held sites, animal rooms, an analytical laboratory, an immunology laboratory, and a clinical pathology laboratory. 

There are more examples for the application of these requirements If a study involves analytical procedures, the facility has to have an adequate power supply with adequate provisions for the case of power failures or breakdowns. The same provisions have to be taken for the air-conditioning system of the animal rooms. It is self-evident that the IT system of a test facility will have to be protected against this kind of event, too. Furthermore, an adequate ventilation system will be needed in order to protect test systems, equipment and technicians from noxious or corrosive gases and volatile solvents. In the area of in vitro test systems, a surveillance system for the facilities (i.e. the containers) used to store cell lines in a deep-frozen stage will have to assure that the level of liquid nitrogen does not fall below the critical minimal level. Many more examples could be cited and the appropriateness of the facility and its construction can be followed down to the small table on which the balance to be used in the study is placed Does this table have sturdy legs and a special. 

The Federal Animal Welfare Act (PL 89-544) requires that animal food be stored in facilities which protect it from infestation or contamination by vermin (wild rodents, birds, and insects). Food can be stored in individual animal rooms in vermin-proof containers with lids, such as plastic garbage containers. Ideally, bulk-food shipments should be stored in a room or warehouse where the temperature can be maintained at less than 70"F and the relative humidity at 50% or less. The room should have doors that prevent the entry of rodents or birds. Vermin control is important since wild rodents, birds, and insects can contaminate stored feed with bacteria, viruses, or parasites which could adversely affect laboratory animal health. Pesticides should not be used to control vermin in this area while food supplies are present contamination of food with pesticides can seriously affect experimental results in animals. Boric acid powder can be placed along the walls to control cockroaches, without the negative experimental impact of organophosphate insecticides. 

The laboratory director establishes policies and procedures whereby only persons who have been advised ofthe biohazards and meet any specific entry requirements (e.g., special training or immunization) may enter the laboratory or animal rooms. 

The laboratory directorcontrols access to the laboratory and restricts access to persons whose presence is required forprogram or support purposes. For example, persons who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed may be at risk of acquiring infections. Persons who are at increased risk of acquiring infection or for whom infection may be unusually hazardous are not to be allowed in the laboratory or animal rooms. The laboratory director has the final responsibility for assessing each circumstance and determining who may enter or work in the laboratory. 

Figure 2.1 Protective clothing. Full coveralls are useful to protect street clothes from spills or splashes and may be required for certain laboratory situations (e.g., animal room work). (Courtesy of Durafab Disposables, Inc.)...

Laboratory materials requiring disposal will normally occur either in the liquid or the solid form (which includes animal room wastes). The volume of these materials can become a major problem when there is the requirement that all wastes be disinfected prior to disposal. 

A. Compound Volatility. One is sometimes required or requested to evaluate the potential irritancy of a liquid that has a boiling point between room temperature and the body temperature of the test animal. As a result, the liquid portion of the material will evaporate off before the end of the testing period. There is no real way around the problem one can only make clear in the report on the test that the traditional test requirements were not met, though an evaluation of potential irritant hazard was probably achieved (for the liquid phase would also have evaporated from a human that it was spilled on). 

There are no quantitative data on the number of L chains required to intoxicate a nerve terminal. In Aplyisa califomica cholinergic neurons, few molecules of toxin appear to be sufficient to block neuroexocytosis within an hour at room temperature (Poulain, personal communication). It is even more likely that few copies of L chain are sufficient in warm-blooded animals. It is evident that as long as the toxin is present in an active form, the nerve signal cannot be transmitted. 

The energy expenditure of an animal or human may also be determined by the method of direct calorimetry. Direct calorimetry requires the use of an insulated room, chamber, or suit for the human or animal. The enclosure contains a water jacket. The water passes from one end of the jacket to the other, maintaining the room, chamber, or suit at a constant temperature. The temperature of the water leaving the jacket is used to calculate the energy expended by the subject. The principles behind the use of the chamber are identical to those behind the use of the bomb calorimeter. The major difference is that in bomb calorimetry combustion is catalyzed by a small spark. In addition, in the bomb calorimeter oxygen is present at a high pressure to facilitate combustion. With direct calorimetry, combustion is catalyzed by enzymes. This combustion proceeds more slowly than that catalyzed by a spark, and the temperature of the subject does not increase much over the normal resting body temperature with the various activities. 

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