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Laboratory Animal Care
Service Access to LACS Animal Facilities The restrictive LACS policy regarding admission to animal facilities serves to protect the public and KSU employees from unnecessary exposure to potential hazards, and protects animals and animal experiments from interference by unauthorized personnel. The faculty and staff are requested to assist in enforcing this policy and to report any and all exceptions to the LACS Assistant Director. Unauthorized exceptions to this policy will be considered trespassing. Access to LACS facilities is limited to the following individuals:
Minors are strictly forbidden entry into LACS facilities because of potential health hazards associated with infectious diseases, radiation and/or chemical toxins. There may be a strong temptation for faculty and staff to bring their families or friends to see the animals. To do so exposes their loved ones and the animals to hazards and compromises the research of fellow investigators. Some animal colonies are protected by specific barrier systems to protect the health of the animals or because experiments being conducted are hazardous. Signs posted on the doors, such as "Radiation Hazard" or "Biohazard," identify these areas. Admission to these areas requires approval of the investigator and special procedures, such as use of protective apparel. It is imperative to keep animal housing areas locked. Keys to animal housing areas will be issued to investigators and their staff following approval by the LACS director or assistant director, and on submission of a written request form to the University Key Office. Key request forms are available in the Biology Office, Ackert 232. Please report the finding of any unlocked animal room doors to the Assistant director of LACS. Eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed in any animal housing area, and the latter is currently forbidden anywhere in Ackert Hall. Personnel may smoke in designated areas outside the buildings.
Facilities LACS maintains animals in two buildings on campus; Burt Hall and Ackert Hall. Burt Hall is an older facility, and all animal rooms were extensively remodeled between 1990 and 1992. At that time, all floors were resurfaced, drains cleaned, walls repaired, sealed, and painted, exhaust fans added as needed to facilitate air exchanges, and an updated alarm system installed. Burt Hall currently has six rooms suitable for housing animals plus several accessory and storage areas, but the rooms are utilized primarily for temporary housing of non-rodent species such as birds and ruminants. LACS has been assigned 12 rooms in Ackert Hall, although only seven of these are equipped to house animals and only five rooms are currently in use. The majority of animals in Ackert Hall are rodents, and all animals are maintained in stainless steel rodent isolator units. Each unit is capable of handling 82 mouse cages or 30 rat cages, and LACS currently has 13 of these units. However, ventilation ducts and space are available to support 31 such isolator units. Air enters each individual rack through standard air intake filters, and the air is exhausted through vents leading to the roof. None of the air is recirculated. Other than during specific metabolic studies, no rodents are maintained on wire. Ackert 401 is a manipulation room that contains a hood, balance, sink, and tables for investigators to manipulate animals during experiments (i.e. surgery, inoculations, injections, euthanasia, etc.) so that investigators need not take animals into their own laboratories. The cagewasher used by LACS is an Amsco Basil cage/bottle washer, model #3510. This machine heats its own water to a specifically selected setting. All cages, water bottles, and other impliments used in animal care and use are run through the cage washer. The water temperature is set at 182 F, and the machine has a digital readout panel that shows the exact water temperature. In addition, the machine includes sanitation guarantee where the electronics do not allow the wash cycle to finish until the set water temperature has been achieved. The principle autoclave used by LACS is a Castle MDT, model number 3522, series MC3500. All cages, water bottles, and other impliments used in animal care and use are autoclaved. This autoclave is equipment with an ink printout that records temperature, length of time of the autoclave cycle, mechanical problems, and also any power fluctuation or outages even when the machine is not autoclaving. These printouts are saved by LACS and a permanent record maintained. Autoclave tape that changes color at 121 C (250 F) is also used during each cycle to insure sterility.
Movement and Use of Animals Outside LACS Facilities LACS has no authority over animals outside LACS controlled facilities. However, LACS maintains that use of animals within individual laboratories, and movement of animals to and from housing areas by investigators, should be accomplished with the safety and well-being of both people and animals in mind. The possibility of disease transmission between human beings and animals and good public relations necessitate that public routes such as elevators and public corridors be avoided when transporting animals within the University. When moving an animal, the handler must have complete control, utilizing physical (e.g., transport cage) or chemical (e.g., anesthesia) means of restraint. The animal should be transported in covered cages for sanitary, aesthetic and health reasons.
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