실험실 기본 관리
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Q1: What personal protective equipment should you wear when unpacking shipped laboratory animals?
Wear a lab coat, gloves, safety glasses, and a surgical-type mask to reduce exposure to dust and allergens. This minimum PPE protects you during animal unpacking procedures. For immunocompromised animals, additional protective measures including steam-sterilized gowns and double sterile gloves are required to maintain aseptic conditions.
Q2: How long should disinfectant contact shipping containers before opening them?
Disinfectant must remain in contact with the outer surfaces of shipping containers for at least 15-30 minutes, following manufacturer recommendations. This contact time destroys harmful pathogens that may have accumulated during transit. After disinfection, place the container in an Animal Transfer Station with HEPA-filtered airflow before opening.
Q3: What are the space requirements for housing mice and rats in laboratory cages?
A standard mouse cage provides 75 square inches of floor space and accommodates a maximum of 5 adult mice. Rat cages offer 142 square inches and house up to 2 adult rats. Both static cages and individually ventilated cages meet these requirements, though individually ventilated cages reduce the frequency of cage changes needed.
Q4: What water treatment is necessary for immunocompromised laboratory animals?
Immunocompromised animals require sterilized water to prevent contamination. Add 2 drops of 12 molar hydrochloric acid to 8 liters of reverse osmosis water to acidify it to pH 2.5-3, limiting bacterial growth. Pour the treated water into individual bottles, cover with aluminum foil, and autoclave the bottles and sipper tube lids for steam sterilization.
Q5: What environmental room conditions are critical for mouse and rat welfare?
Maintain temperature between 68-79°F and humidity at 30-70% to prevent conditions like ringtail. Use a 12-hour light/dark cycle with lighting intensity around 325 lux during inactive periods. Provide 10-15 air changes per hour of 100% fresh air to reduce microbes and odors, supporting animal health and experimental outcomes.
Q6: How does nesting material benefit laboratory mice and rats in cages?
Nesting materials allow animals to exhibit species-specific behaviors like nest building and burrowing, which decreases stress and increases overall well-being. For multiple male mice, nesting materials saturated with calming pheromones help prevent aggression. Transferring the nesting area to a clean cage during cage changes assists animals with the transition and reduces stress-related complications.
Q7: How do researchers use animal housing and environmental preferences in experimental studies?
Researchers leverage knowledge of rodent behavior to design experiments studying animal welfare and function. Scientists score nest-building behavior to assess the effect of ambient temperature on welfare. Since mice and rats prefer carbohydrates and are nocturnal, researchers use different food shapes to test motor function and proper handling and restraining techniques to study anxiety-like behavior in open field environments.