Last updated: March 12, 2012
I. Purpose
The SystemSURE sanitation monitoring system will allow LAR Staff to monitor sanitation practices and the environment. StstemSURE detects ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) which is present in all organic material. If ATP is detected then the surface monitored has not been sufficently cleaned.
II. Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the LAR Staff to monitor the sanitation of the animal environment and the water supply in all animal facilities.
III. Monitoring sanitation and water in animal facilities
Monitoring of sanitized caging (primary housing) will be done the first Monday of the month as follows:
- Health Science Building (HSB)
- Rat and mouse boxes
- Naked mole rat boxes
- Hamster boxes
- Rabbit and guinea pig pans
- Sheep stall; floor of middle stall after full cage clean
- Skaggs Building (SB)
- South Skaggs Building (SSB)
Monitoring the water in all animal facilities
- Water monitoring will be done quarterly (January, April, July and October)
- HSB, SB, south SB, Research Field Station at Ft. Missoula and sheep farm
- Water should be tested furthest away in the facility from the incoming water source
- HSB-toward the east end of building (006A or 007).
- SB-Cage wash room (034) for old part of building and Rm 027 for new part.
Monitoring the surgical suite
- HSB 005C, when infectious agents are being used during surgical procedures
- Testing should be done on the Thursday during surgery week
- Swab surgery table and floor after last surgery and before room is sanitized
- Swab surgery table and floor after surgery staff has sanitized room
IV. Procedure
- Getting started
- Press red power ON/OFF button (program will default to Program #0)
- Select test plan.
- Press*key to get to menu (Select User ID will appear)
- Use up arrow key to get to the test plan menu
- Press OK key - plan # will flash
- Use arrow keys to locate desired plan
- Press OK to select plan
- Select location within plan (or select location without selecting plan)
- Press P key.
- Use arrow keys to locate desired location.
- Press OK to select location.
- Calibration (monthly, use positive/negative control kit to verify accuracy of SystemSure)
- Testing
- Ultrasnap Swabs - Environmental Testing
- Obtain swab from drugs & medical supply refrigerator in HSB 016.
- Let swabs sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before testing.
- DO NOT touch the bottom end of test tube.
- Withdraw swab by gently pulling and twisting the swab from the swab tube.
- Swab surface in a four X four inch square (~100 square centimeters) while rotating swab.
- Put swab back in swab tube.
- Hold the swab tube firmly and use the thumb and forefinger to break the Snap Valve by bending the bulb forward and backward, snapping it completely off.
- Squeeze the bulb twice to expel the liquid.
- Shake swab tube back and forth for 5-10 seconds.
- Open lid on SystemSURE and insert swab tube, holding the device upright (90 degree angle).
- Close lid and press OK.
- Results will appear in 15 seconds.
- Aquasnap Swabs - Water Testing
- Obtain swab from drugs & medical supply refrigerator in HSB 016.
- Let swabs sit at room temperature for 2-5 minutes before testing.
- Do not touch the bottom end of test tube.
- Withdraw swab by gently pulling and twisting the swab from the swab tube.
- Submerge sample collection tip in sample water. Aquasnap will collect 100 microliters of sample.
- Put swab back in swab tube and gently shake to release sample off the collection tip and into swab tube.
- Hold the swab tube firmly and use the thumb and forefinger to break the Snap Valve by bending the bulb forward and backward, snapping it completely off.
- Squeeze the bulb twice to expel the liquid.
- Shake swab tube back and forth for 5-10 seconds.
- Open lid on SystemSURE and insert swab tube, holding the device upright (90 deree angle).
- Close lid and press OK.
- Results will appear in 15 seconds.
V. Downloading data to the computer
- Open SureTrend program located under the start menu on the Health Science Building computer.
- Attach phone cord (connected to back of computer) to SystemSURE by opening lid them lifting the rubber piece next to the swab tube insert location.
- Remember to tuck rubber piece flat after unplugging phone cord or the unit will not read correctly during the next test session.
- Turn on unit after plugged into computer.
- Click on the "synchronize" button on SureTrend's main page.
- Select "Com4" when pop-up window appears.
- New test results will automatically be uploaded.
- After test results are loaded, another pop-up window will ask if you want to erase test memory. Select "yes."
VI. Interpreting data
- Baseline measurements were determined from double washed cages, pans and floors (measurements from slightly soiled items were also pretested when determining the range of measurements taken with the SystemSURE). Monthly sanitization monitoring results should be near the baseline measurements. If the numbers remain high after sanitation, then use Microquat or bleach to clean caging, primary housing or surgical suite and retest.
- Health Sciences Building baseline measurements.
- Rat and mouse caging: baseline of 0
- Naked Mole Rat caging: baseline of 0
- Rabbit pans: baseline of 0
- Sheep primary housing (floor, middle stall): baseline of 0
- Surgical suite (surgery table, floor): baseline of 0
- Skaggs/South Skaggs Building baseline measurements.
- Mouse caging: baseline of 0
- Water baseline measurements
- HSB, SB, SSB, and Aviary: baseline of 0
- Sheep farm: baseline of 0
