Transporting Immunocompetent Mice to the Building 37 Irradiator (37/B440)
Since the Building 37
Irradiator Facility is being used for the irradiation of animals (potentially
from any laboratory on campus), it has the risk of serving as a focal point for
the spread of contamination, and thus every effort must be made to minimize this
potential problem. These procedures must be carefully followed to protect the
health status of all the immunocompetent mice in the Building 37 animal
facility.
1. Only immunocompetent mice from the Building 37
animal facility can be transported using this procedure. To protect the health
status of mice in the building 37 animal facility investigators should avoid
bringing mice to the irradiator if mice from other facilities have been brought
to the irradiator room earlier in the day.
2. The mice will be placed in disinfected irradiation
holders which are then placed in large, air-filled double plastic bags and
sealed for removal from the 37 facility. Irradiation holders are supplied by the
investigator but assistance with disinfection or washing may be sought from
Mr. Asa
Dorsey, the Facility Manager for the Building
37 Animal Facility.
3. The bagged holders will be taken directly to the
Building 37 Room B440 irradiation room. The radiation room is to be kept
meticulously clean by the frequent use of disinfectants such as Alcide before,
during, and after the animals are in the room.
4. Upon arrival at the irradiation facility, the
outer transport bag is removed and left on the table immediately inside the
irradiation room. The irradiation of the animals is to proceed with the animals
still contained within the inner bag.
5. The bagged mice in the irradiation holders must be
attended at all times and mice must be removed from the bag as soon as possible
to avoid suffocating mice.
6. After irradiation, bagged mice will be transferred
back inside the outer transport bag, immediately.
7. Mice are then taken directly to the laboratory for
holding (before euthanasia only) less than 24 hours or they are returned to the
receiving area outside of the Building 37 animal facility. There the outer
transport bag will be removed and the inner bag is sprayed thoroughly with
Alcide. Protective clothing must be changed before re-entering the facility.
8. Before entering the animal holding room, the
remaining plastic bag is removed. Upon entering the holding room the mice are
transferred from the irradiation holders to the original animal cage.
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