STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Mouse Housing FAQs (pdf)

1. Performance Standard: All mice are checked daily for health, feed and water, and clean cages. The rack recoil hose and air supply and exhaust plenums or hoses are properly connected. Rack autowater manifolds are flushed daily. Trolley settings are correct. Each slot has a cage in it. Rooms are stocked with in-date supplies. Health problems are reported to the Laboratory Animal Technologist, the ARC veterinary staff and the Principal Investigator (PI) or designated lab contact person.

2. Protective Equipment: The personal protective equipment (PPE) listed below is to be used as indicated.

Required for animal room entry:
- Disposable gown
- Bouffant cap
- Shoe covers over dedicated ARC footwear
- Disposable nitrile gloves
Suggested
- Safety glasses

3. Caging

Allentown small mouse cage: 11" x 7" x 5" high, 77 sq. inches floor space, capacity 4 adult mice.
Allentown large mouse cage: 19" x 10" x 6" high, 190 sq. inches floor space, capacity 8 adult mice. Use of large breeder cages needs to be approved by the Operations Manager, Associate Director or Director.
Tecniplast Seal Safe mouse cage: approx. 14 1/2" x 6 1/8" x 5 3/16" high, 67 sq. inches floor space, capacity 4 adult mice.
Breeding animals:
- 1 male and 1 female should be housed in a small mouse cage (Allentown or Tecniplast). If a breeding trio (1 male, 2 females) is housed in a small mouse cage, the litter must be weaned at 21 days of age.
- 1 male and up to 3 females can be housed in a large mouse cage.
- Litters are weaned at 21 days of age.
- Litters from breeding pairs will be allowed a 3-day grace period after day 21 for weaning. If the litters are not weaned by 25 days of age, the ARC animal care tech responsible for the room that day should wean the mice on day 25, and complete a wean request form, temporary cage cards and a miscellaneous services slip. Write the name of the lab person responsible for the cage on the miscellaneous services slip. Send an e-mail to the lab contact person to let them know the litter has been weaned.
- Litters from breeding trios housed in small mouse cages must be weaned when they reach 21 days of age. If the litters are not weaned by 22 days of age, the ARC animal care tech responsible for the room that day should wean the mice on day 22, and complete a wean request form, temporary cage cards and a miscellaneous services slip. Write the name of the lab person responsible for the cage on the miscellaneous services slip. Send an e-mail to the lab contact person to let them know the litter has been weaned.

4. Environment

Light cycle: 12 hours light/12 hours dark (exceptions are noted on the room sign)
Humidity: 40%-60%
Temperature: 72°F +/- 2°
Report environmental problems in the room (i.e. room temperature variations >+/- 2°F from 72°F, obvious ventilation changes) verbally to the Operations Manager. On weekends and holidays, also report these problems to DHMC Engineering for Borwell and FO&M for Vail and Moore. Phone numbers are posted in the Borwell facility break room and the Vail and Moore offices.

5. Water

Water may be supplied via the automated watering system.
Water valves are exchanged every two weeks, on the complete change ("cc") day, unless otherwise indicated by an ARC special instruction card on the front of the cage. Test each water valve by toggling the valve stem, to be sure it works. If there is a "CAGE REMOVED" sign in the slot, refer to section 17 of this SOP.
If water is supplied via the automated watering system, check to be sure the recoil hose is connected to the room distribution system and the rack, and that there is an orange-colored cable tie between the room distribution system quick disconnect and the recoil hose plug. Verify the quick disconnect will not release.
Water may be supplied ad lib via bottle, stopper and sipper tube, unless otherwise indicated by an ARC special instruction card on the front of the cage.
Water bottles are changed once a week on the "cc" day, the breeder change ("BRC") day or on the bottle change ("b") day, or more frequently if the water level becomes low.

6. Feed

Teklad Autoclavable Rodent Diet 7012 is fed ad lib, unless otherwise indicated by an ARC special instruction card on the front of the cage. Feed is added to the feed compartment of the wire bar lid at cage change time and whenever the feed level is less than one third of the feeder capacity. Feed should not be mounded. It should be level with the top of the feed compartment.
Feed bags are put directly into the feed bin. Keep the feed bin cover in place at all times when mice are not being fed.
Do not combine feed in one bag with feed in another bag within the same room, even if both bags of feed have the same milling date.
The feed arrives with the milling date printed on the bottom of the bag. The animal care tech assigned to the clean cage room writes the expiration date (6 months after the milling date) on the top of the bag when the feed is received, so it is visible when the feed bin is opened.
Discard expired feed.

7. Bedding

Hardwood chips as contact bedding, supplied approximately to a depth of 1/4" (approximately 1 3/4 cups of chips).
All cages are supplied with a Nestlet® or iso-BLOX®.
Exceptions need to be approved by the Operations Manager, Associate Director or Director.

8. Cage Changing

Cages are opened in an animal transfer station (ATS) or hood. See SOP E.30 for ATS and hood operation details.
Cages are checked daily and changed if the bedding is wet or excessively soiled.
Gloved hands are wiped with Clidox 1:5:1 between cages.
Cages are changed every other week, on the "cc" day, unless they become soiled and require more frequent changing.
Small cages containing litters are changed once a week, on the "cc" day and the breeder cage change ("BRC") day. The ARC tech identifies these cages by putting a large (3/4") light blue colored dot on the cage card. NOTE: The ARC tech should remove the light blue colored dot when the litter has been weaned.
Large cages are changed every other week.
Changing cages of females with litters:
Transfer the litter to the clean cage by scooping it up with some of the nesting material (Nestlet® or iso-BLOX®) and old bedding.
Avoid handling the pups.
Transfer the adult mice to the clean cage.
There is one cage of sentinel mice per rack side. When doing a cage change, transfer 1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of bedding from each soiled cage into an empty, clean cage that is kept inside the ATS or hood and kept covered unless bedding is being added to it. Avoid putting too much bedding into the cage. When all of the cages on the rack side have been changed, place the sentinels into the cage containing the combined soiled bedding. Contact the Laboratory Animal Technologist if you do not find a sentinel cage on the rack.

9. Lid Changing

Wire bar lids and filter tops are changed every 2 weeks, on the "cc" day, when the cage bottom is changed.
Fill the feed compartment when the lid is changed, at cage change time and when the food level is less than one third of the feeder's capacity.
Food may be transferred from the old lid to the new lid.
Food fed to one cage of mice is never fed to a different cage.

10. Rack Changing

Ventilated racks and associated tubing are changed and sanitized every six months. Write the date you put the rack into use on the left-hand side of the rack using a marker containing detergent removable ink.

11. Room Sanitation

Room sanitation, including cleaning implements (broom, dustpan & brush, Doodlebug pad & holder) is to be done every 6 months and when room is emptied.
Animals, cages and racks may be moved from the room into the corridor during room sanitation, or transferred to a clean, empty room.
See SOP K.2 for details.

12. Cage Cards

Each cage is required to have an ARC cage card on it, attached to the cage by a card holder.

13. Animal Health

Observe mice for health status, adequate feed and water daily.
Check the cages for Health Check cards. Perform any treatments indicated on the card.
Report ill animals using the Health Check card and e-mail the PI or lab contact person, Laboratory Animal Technologist and ARC veterinary staff. If immediate attention is needed, verbally report this to the Laboratory Animal Technologist or ARC veterinary staff. If immediate attention is needed on weekends, call the on-call vet.
Record the date of birth of new litters on the ARC cage card, the lab's card or the breeding record card. If you find an older litter and do not find a date of birth written on the cage card, record an estimated date of birth.
Place a "Please Wean" sticker on the cage card of cages containing litters that are 21 days old. Send an e-mail to the PI and lab contact person to let them know litters need to be weaned (include the room number in the e-mail). Refer to section 3 of this SOP for weaning deadlines.
Report overcrowded cages to the PI or lab contact person and put an "Overcrowded" sticker on the cage card. Refer to section 3 of this SOP for cage capacities.
When you find a dead animal and the animal is not part of a biohazardous study, place the carcass in a black plastic bag or glove and seal the bag or glove. Place an "Animal Found Dead" sticker on the cage card. Write on the cage card that an animal was found dead and the date the animal was found dead. Contact the PI or lab contact person to let them know an animal was found dead in the cage. Document dead animals using the "Mortality Tracking Form" card. Attach the white copy to the bag or glove containing the carcass. If the mouse is the last one in the cage, date out the cage card and put it and the beige copy of the "Mortality Tracking Form" in the cage card drop box. For carcasses from the Borwell main facility areas and the Vail facility, place the carcass in the appropriate drawer in the 48-hour bin in the carcass cooler. Carcasses from animals found dead in the Borwell quarantine area are put into the refrigerator in the quarantine suite hallway. Carcasses from Moore are placed in the freezer located in room B52. See SOP H.3 for biohazardous studies procedure.

14. Daily Activity Log

Using a pen with permanent black or blue ink, record all animal care and room care activities on the Daily Activity Log.
Comments can be made on the back of the log. Using a pen with permanent black or blue ink, put your initials next to the appropriate date on the back of the Daily Activity Log to indicate you've checked for comments.
Using a pen with permanent black or blue ink, record the current ("now"), maximum ("high") and minimum ("low") temperatures and reset the min-max thermometer.

15. Manifold Flush Log

If water is provided via the automated watering system, flush the rack manifold daily.
- Open the valve located diagonally opposite the recoil hose connection. Allow water to flow for approximately 1 minute, then close the drain valve.
- Using a pen with permanent black or blue ink, initial the Manifold Flush Log to indicate the flush was done.
- Racks may be flushed sequentially, with more than one manifold flushing at a time. However, to avoid setting off the automated watering system high flow alarm, do not let water run continuously for more than 4 minutes.

16. What to do if you Find a Flooded Cage

If you find a flooded cage and the mice are alive, check to see whether the cage is properly docked, whether there is water flowing from the water valve, and whether the feed is wet.
- Using an ATS or hood, transfer the mice into a clean, dry cage and give them fresh food if necessary. If they are excessively wet, dry the mice off using the sterile pad provided in the flooded cage kit located in the suite's procedure room. To avoid hypothermia, do not put the cage of mice back on the ventilated rack until the mice are dry.
- Remove the water valve from the rack and replace it with a clean one.
- Replace the cage onto the rack once the mice are dry.
If you find a flooded cage and the mice are dead, do not touch the cage. Contact the Operations Manager or Associate Director.
Fill out a Flooded Cage Documentation Form regardless of the flooded cage scenario. Give the valve and the completed Flooded Cage Documentation Form to the Operations Manager or Associate Director. Be sure to keep the valve with the form.

17. "CAGE REMOVED" Signs

A "CAGE REMOVED" sign in a cage slot indicates a cage has been removed, either temporarily or permanently. When you find a cage removed sign while doing the room check:
- Remove the used water valve,
- Sanitize your gloved hand with Clidox 1:5:1,
- Put a clean valve in place. Test the water valve by toggling the valve stem, to be sure it works.
- Sanitize the supply and exhaust nozzles with Clidox 1:5:1.
- Place a clean cage in the slot.
- The "CAGE REMOVED" sign can be disinfected with Clidox 1:5:1 and put into the sign storage bin in the suite hallway.
- Bring the used water valve to the cagewash room when you've finished working in the suite.

18. Housekeeping and Room Maintenance

Animal room floors are swept and sanitized with a freshly prepared bleach solution twice each week, on the "cc" and mop ("m") days. Clean the animal room floor sooner if needed. Turn off the hose water supply when you're finished sanitizing the floor.
Drain baskets are emptied when the floors are sanitized.
Feed bins are taken to the cagewash room and sanitized at least monthly.
Burned out fluorescent light tubes are replaced as needed by the animal care technician in charge of the room at Borwell. For burned out fluorescent light tubes in the Vail facility, technicians should contact DMS Facilities. For burned out fluorescent light tubes in the Moore facility, technicians should contact FO&M Work Control.
Door frames and door windows are cleaned and disinfected at least monthly.
Each slot on the rack should have a cage in it. If you find an empty slot, follow the procedure in section 17 of this SOP.
Tecniplast trolley supply and exhaust pre-filters and Allentown blower pack pre-filters are changed on the first Monday of each month.
Tecniplast trolley supply and exhaust readings should be consistent with the settings indicated on the card attached to the trolley. Adjust them if they are not.
Stock the animal room ATS or hood with in-date squirt (not spray) bottles of Clidox 1:5:1 and Quatricide PV-15®, a roll of paper towels, a pad of paper plus a pen, hood cleaning procedures, a sheet magnifier and a sharps container. Replace sharps containers when they are 3/4 full.
Keep the card box stocked with the following items:
- Health Check cards
- "Please Wean," "Dead Animal(s) Found" and "Overcrowded" sticky notes
- Breeding cards
- Mortality Tracking Forms
- Transfer cards
- Temporary cage cards
- Flooded cage documentation forms
- 3/4" light blue dots
- 1/4" red (acidified water) and green (Septra water) dots if needed in the room
- Teeth clippers