Working with Animals in the Hood or Change

StationPatricia Matos

Julie Watson

EVERY TIME you open the cage the animals are at risk

ONLY open the cage in a disinfected hood or change station

THE CAGE IS THE PRIMARY BARRIERThe barrier to disease is at the CAGE level. If the cage is closed, the cage protects.

NEVER block the air vents

THE HOOD PROVIDES AN AIR BARRIER When you open the cage, the cage barrier is lost. Instead, the hood & change station protect with a filtered air curtain

NEVER put your head or body in the hood or change station. You contaminate the space and disrupt the air barrier

ALWAYS keep the side panels DOWN when working in the change station

THE AIR CURTAIN PROTECTS YOUR ANIMALS

The protected area is WITHIN the air vents, providing the face screen is in the correct position

ALWAYS work in the protected space inside the air vents

Then wipe down to make sure all areas are covered with disinfectant

YOU MUST MAKE SURE THE HOOD IS CLEAN

First spray all surfaces with disinfectant (MB-10)

The hood & change station may harbor pathogens from a prior user

PREPARE IN ADVANCEGather all your materials in advance to avoid trips away

NEVER leave your hood unattended. How do you know it will not be compromised while you’re gone?

USE THE RIGHT PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTAlways use disinfected gloves and sleeves

Don’t leave a gap between gloves and sleeves. Use tape or poke thumb through sleeve. Cover sleeve with glove.Spray gloves and sleeves with disinfectant (MB-10)

ORGANIZE YOUR WORK AREAMessy space leads to mistakes

Define your animal work area. You may use a clean towel or diaperIf using a towel,it can spread pathogens. Replace towel between cages to avoid spreading disease.

THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAGE MAY HARBOR PATHOGENS

Spray OUTSIDE of cage with MB-10 BEFORE placing it in the hood!

Don’t put those pathogens in the hood!

WORK WET. KEEP USING THE DISINFECTANTDon’t spread infection from outside the cage to the animals inside

ALWAYS wet hands in MB-10 after handling outside surfaces, cage or cage lid

ALWAYS dip instruments and wet hands in MB-10 between cages

DISEASE ALSO SPREADS BY AEROSOLIf more than one cage is open, they are sharing both airspace and disease

Open only the cages you have to. Close cages as soon as you are finished. Don’t overload the hood. Replace cages on rack once finished.

YOU MUST ENSUREYOUR CAGES HAVE FOOD AND WATER

When returning cages to the rack:

ALWAYS lock cages in to ensure air flow.

ALWAYS touch the water valve to get water flow

LEAVE THE HOOD AS YOU WOULD WISH TO FIND IT

Spray down and wipe hood surfaces

Discard trash

Remember: report problems to supervisor immediately

Remove all equipment

Walls

Walls

Walls

Ceiling

Floor

1. Use gloves and sleeves

4. Work

2. Soak

3. Spray of cage

hood surfaces

SUMMARY