University of Montana logo
 
 Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) logo
LAR VP research/development AUP forms OH&S animal order form training PHS assurance AAALAC number

Laboratory Animal Resources
University of Montana
Kathryn Mariucci, IACUC coordinator
(406) 243-6395

IACUC Policies

Standard of Care for Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) Mice

Date adopted: May 2002
Date revised: August 10, 2006

Policy:

The Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) maintains a specific pathogen free (SPF) animal area for SPF mice. The LAR staff will implement and monitor compliance with SPF standards of care and use of all SPF-designated mice. Violations will be recorded and reported to the LAR director or the IACUC through the IACUC Coordinator, IACUC Chair, or LAR personnel. Procedures for reporting violations to the IACUC are posted on the IACUC web site.

Policy Procedure:

  1. The LAR Director and IACUC have established that ALL mice housed or entering the Skaggs Building animal facility will be maintained under specific pathogen free (SPF or modified SPF) conditions. The rationale for this decision is based on:

     

    1. The need to maintain numerous mice under SPF conditions.
    2. Several investigators conduct experiments that require SPF mice. SPF mice are often shipped to other institutions for collaboration. Many institutions will not accept non-SPF mice.
    3. SPF mice are under high risk when housed near non-SPF rodents. Viruses, ecto- and endoparasites present a real risk to SPF mice that may be immunocompromised or have other specific traits, gene manipulations, etc.
    4. Contamination of SPF mice is very costly and results in an unacceptable waste of animals because contaminated mice must be sacrificed without good experimental purpose.
    5. It places an undue burden on the animal care staff to try and maintain SPF and non-SPF colonies in the same facility.
  2. Personnel training for SPF animal care and use

     

    1. All SPF animal care and use personnel must be trained by LAR personnel on SPF protocols.
    2. SPF care and use personnel should not keep pet rodents (mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils or any other member of the rodent family) at home. If they so desire, they must completely cover or change their shoes and clothes and use a hair covering before entering the SPF facility.
    3. All SPF trained personnel must follow the SPF care and use guidelines at all times.
  3. Entering and Leaving SPF facilities

     

    1. Without exception: You cannot enter the SPF facility if you have previously been in a non-SPF rodent room that day. You must change your clothes first.
    2. Open-toed shoes are not allowed in the animal facility.
    3. Only LAR trained personnel or visitors accompanied by LAR trained personnel may enter the SPF facility.
    4. Use your Griz card for access. If you do not have a Griz card or Griz card access, you must sign in and out, and you must be accompanied by trained users at all times.
    5. Outside lab coats will not be allowed in the facility. These can carry unwanted contaminants in and out of the facility. White coats are provided inside the animal rooms and colored coats are provided for handling dirty animal contact materials in the cage wash room.
    6. Decontaminate all carts and outside materials that are brought in with MB-10 (chlorinated disinfectant) MikroQuat between the entrance doors.
    7. You must place shoe covers over your shoes (provided outside mouse rooms) when you enter a mouse room.
    8. Once you enter a mouse room, put on a room lab coat (white) and gloves provided inside the individual mouse rooms.
    9. When leaving the mouse room, take off gloves and mask (if used) and dispose in garbage can. Wash hands with soap and water. Remove the room lab coat (white) and hang on rack in room. Finally, remove shoe covers as you step through the door. Place all disposables in the garbage can provided for that animal handling room.
  4. Receiving rodents under SPF conditions

     

    1. All rodents entering the facility must originate from an SPF facility. Health reports documenting the SPF condition and care of the rodents previous to shipping must be sent to the AV for approval before the shipment can be accepted.
    2. LAR staff will follow established procedures for unpacking SPF mice.
    3. Once mice have left the SPF facility, they may not reenter without permission from the LAR director.
  5. SPF protocol for care and use of mice.

     

    1. All mice must be housed in microisolator cages. Each cage will need to have a cage card stating the number of animals contained in the cage, the PI, the IACUC protocol number, the strain of animal, birth date, wean date, and any other specific information. The cards must be completely filled out or this will be considered a violation.
    2. Shoes are a means for spreading infectious agents. To enter a SPF room, don shoe covers and immediately put on a lab coat. Follow the same procedure when you leave: First discard gloves, masks, etc., and leave the lab coat in that room. Do NOT wear the same lab coat in another room or outside of that room. The lab coats are dedicated to each room.
    3. Before beginning work, wear gloves and clean the working surface and your gloves with disinfectant. Avoid opening more than one cage at the same time. Disinfect your gloves between opening unrelated cages. Clean any bedding or feces from the working surface between unrelated cages and when you complete your work.
    4. Mice should not be transferred between rooms without consulting with LAR staff and both principal investigators involved in the transfer. Inter-room transfers may be included as part of the animal use protocol. All cages leaving the facility must be signed out. All cages leaving the facility must be returned to the dirty cage room in the Health Sciences building. .
    5. Animals may only be returned to the facility with prior approval of the LAR director. This is discouraged, but may be necessary for certain experiments.

       

      1. Disinfect the cages and the wheels of the cart by spraying them with disinfectant before returning them to the SPF facility.
      2. Do NOT transfer these mice to any SPF housing room. Return to LAR can only be for procedures in SB009
  6. Serology

     

    1. Each SPF room will have serology conducted every 3 months on either sentinel mice or a random selection of mice. The serum will be analyzed by the MU RADIL for a “clinical” or better panel. Annually, a “basic” panel will be conducted.
    2. All health reports and serology reports and results must be provided by the LAR director. They will be kept on file by LAR staff, and available to all investigators upon request.
    3. Sick mice must be immediately reported to the LAR director. The infected animals will be immediately treated or discarded according to the LAR Director’s discretion.
    4. Any contamination or seropositive result will be confirmed, and then reported to all SPF investigators within 24 hours of confirmatory testing so that extra precaution may be observed.