Standard Operating Procedure - The M.I.C.E. System

Transcription

1 Standard Operating Procedure - The M.I.C.E. System How the M.I.C.E. System works M.I.C.E. System racks are connected to the facility s exhaust system with flexible air hoses. All ACS racks use the same type of hose, which connects using special thimble connectors. Clean air is supplied by the building s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system to each animal room. Typically, the air enters through supply vents and exits through exhaust vents in each room. This conditioned air is filtered again as it is drawn in through the front filter(s) of each cage on the rack. Air is then drawn out through the rear exhaust filter(s) of each cage and into the rack s modular plenum where it exits through the exhaust hoses connected to the building exhaust system. This sequential layout facilitates low-velocity, single-pass airflow without reentrainment or leakage. Air is not re-circulated from the cages back into the room, which completely eliminates the introduction of odors, allergens, and contaminants. M.I.C.E. racks protect animals and personnel while providing flexibility, high-density, and optimal conditions, all of which result in a stable environment for the animals; these benefits are achieved without consumption of additional electricity, which further reduces the heat load in the room. Setup Procedures Identify a location in the room with unobstructed access from the top of the rack to the room s HVAC exhaust. In most cases, there will be either ceiling drops or vents. There are several effective ways to make this connection. Please consult Animal Care Systems technical support if you are unsure how to do this. All M.I.C.E. racks MUST BE CONNECTED TO NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE. Move the rack into a position that has unobstructed access to all cages. Make sure to leave enough clearance for personnel to maneuver and install/remove cages. Connect both hoses to the exhaust system, and using an M79211, verify that the applicable minimum air velocity requirement is met. Refer to the Airflow Requirement Table on the following page for rack-specific figures. If a rack is connected M79211 with fewer exhaust hoses than it has exhaust ports, any open exhaust ports must be capped with M21080 Ceiling Flange Caps, and the air velocity measurement must meet the values listed in the table for fewer than standard hose operation. If actual airflow measurements exceed the recommended values by a significant margin, M79190 Damper Assembly(s) should be fitted in line with the air hoses. When measuring air velocity for a rack with Dampers in place, measure the flow through both hoses, and average the two values.

2 M.I.C.E System Standard Operating Procedures 05/2013 M.I.C.E Mouse Rack Airflow Data Rack Type and Capacity Hoses Per Rack Total Volume Airflow Per Rack Measurement In Each Hose LESS ONE HOSE ONE EXTRA HOSE S1, 14 Cages 1 8 CFM / 12 CFM 1.3 m/s / 2.0 m/s N/A N/A S2, 28 Cages 1 16 CFM / 24 CFM 2.6 m/s / 3.9 m/s N/A N/A S3, 42 Cages 1* 24 CFM / 36 CFM 3.9 m/s / 5.9 m/s N/A 2.0 m/s / 3.0 m/s S4, 56 Cages 2 32 CFM / 48 CFM 2.6 m/s / 3.9 m/s 5.2 m/s / 7.8 m/s N/A S5, 70 Cages 2 40 CFM / 60 CFM 3.2 m/s / 4.8 m/s 6.4 m/s / 9.6 m/s 2.2 m/s / 3.2 m/s D4, 56 Cages 2 32 CFM / 48 CFM 2.6 m/s / 3.9 m/s 5.2 m/s / 7.8 m/s N/A D6, 84 Cages 2 48 CFM / 72 CFM 3.9 m/s / 5.9 m/s 7.8 m/s / 11.8 m/s 2.6 m/s / 4.0 m/s D8, 112 Cages 2* 64 CFM / 96 CFM 5.2 m/s / 7.8 m/s N/A 3.5 m/s / 5.2 m/s D10, 140 Cages 2* 80 CFM / 120 CFM 6.5m/s / 9.8 m/s N/A 4.4 m/s / 6.6 m/s M.I.C.E Rat Rack Airflow Data Rack Type and Capacity Hoses Per Rack Total Volume Airflow Per Rack Measurement In Each Hose LESS ONE HOSE ONE EXTRA HOSE S1, 7 Cages 1 12 CFM / 18 CFM 1.9 m/s / 2.9 m/s N/A N/A S2, 14 Cages 1 24 CFM / 36 CFM 3.8 m/s / 5.7 m/s N/A N/A S3, 21 Cages 1* 36 CFM / 54 CFM 5.7 m/s / 8.5 m/s N/A 2.9 m/s / 4.3 m/s S4, 28 Cages 2 48 CFM / 72 CFM 3.8 m/s / 5.7 m/s 7.6 m/s / 11.4 m/s N/A S5, 35 Cages 2 60 CFM / 90 CFM 4.9 m/s / 7.3 m/s 9.8 m/s / 14.6 m/s 3.3 m/s / 4.9 m/s D4, 28 Cages 2 48 CFM / 72 CFM 3.8 m/s / 5.7 m/s 7.6 m/s / 11.4 m/s N/A D6, 42 Cages 2 72 CFM / 108 CFM 5.7 m/s / 8.5 m/s 11.4 m/s / 17 m/s 3.8 m/s / 5.7 m/s D8, 56 Cages 2* 96 CFM / 144 CFM 7.8 m/s / 11.7 m/s N/A 5.2 m/s / 7.8 m/s D10, 70 Cages 2* 120 CFM / 180 CFM 9.7 m/s / 14.5 m/s N/A 6.5 m/s / 9.7 m/s * Some situations with less than ideal room ventilation may facilitate the need for one additional exhaust hose in order to meet minimum airflow requirements. Contact ACS support for instructions and additional equipment required when using extra exhaust hoses. Be sure to reference the correct column when extra or fewer exhaust hoses are being used. Any unused exhaust hose ports must be capped with M21080 Ceiling Flange Caps. Page 2

3 Rack Handling Procedures M.I.C.E System Standard Operating Procedures 05/2013 M.I.C.E. System racks are assembled from stainless steel vertical modules, which act as air plenums for ventilation as well as the primary structural elements of the racks. Varying numbers of the modules are connected together to produce the variety of M.I.C.E racks available; these models are denoted by the letter D or S (referring to dual-sided or singlesided) followed by the total number of modules present in the rack. For example, a D6 model has six modules arranged with three on either side to form a dual-sided rack. Fitted to the module structure are stainless steel shelves, which hold the actual animal cages; shelves can be easily removed for thorough cleaning by lifting up and pulling out, away from the rack. M.I.C.E System racks are equipped with four swivel casters to allow for quick, maneuverable transportation; two of the casters are lockable for stable, secure placement. Rack WILL ventilate effectively with any number of cages installed. Rack WILL NOT ventilate properly if: Specific cages WILL NOT ventilate properly if: Both filters are missing from any cage. A filter is missing from that cage. Any of the bottom drain doors left open. Cage top is missing or not fully seated. Exhaust hose not connected properly. A cage is not inserted fully into rack. Any exhaust port on rack left open. Washing and Autoclaving Rack 1. Cages do not need to be removed to autoclave rack. 2. Disconnect both exhaust hoses from the top of the rack. 3. Be sure the openings on top of the rack are unobstructed. 4. Open all of the drain doors at the bottom of the rack by reaching beneath each module from the front; the long door hinges are visible along the bottom front edge. Pull each door down and forward by the handle formed in the rear edge. The latch will release with sufficient force, and the door will swing open. Please note that each module has a dedicated drain door. 5. Roll the rack into the wash or autoclave system. 6. Allow to dry for at least one hour with the drain doors open. Keep drain doors closed except when washing or autoclaving. To close drain doors, simply swing each up and rearward until the latch snaps into place, securely holding the door closed. It is very important that all the drain doors are closed before the rack can return to service or it will not ventilate properly. Page 3

4 Cage Handling Procedures M.I.C.E System Standard Operating Procedures 05/2013 M.I.C.E. System cages have a standard rectangular profile; cages and water bottles are available in three materials, Makrolon (clear polycarbonate) and two grades of Udel (polysulfone), amber and smoke. Prior to autoclaving, cages must be washed with detergent and rinsed with water. Be sure any detergent residue is rinsed from the cage surface. Autoclaving and Washing Cages Note: ACS strongly recommends polysulfone for repeated autoclave use. Please refer to the following information for washing and autoclaving of cage parts. Autoclave temperatures may vary widely during autoclave cycles. ACS cannot be responsible for damage caused by improper settings or use of an autoclave system. When washing cage parts, set wash temperature to 180 F (82 C). Use only non-alkaline detergent and rinse thoroughly with de-ionized water. Polycarbonate cage parts are autoclavable up to 250 F (121 C) for a maximum of 20 minutes. This temperature IS near the upper limit for polycarbonate, and should never be exceeded. Do not stack polycarbonate parts in the autoclave or after autoclaving before they have cooled. Polysulfone cage parts are autoclavable to a temperature of 275 F (134 C). This is NOT near the upper limit for polysulfone, and autoclaving at high temperatures is not normally an issue. Cage Assembly Components There are three primary parts to each cage assembly: Bottle assembly, cage base, and cage top assembly; feeder and feeder cover is included in the cage top assembly. (The bottle is omitted on cages for auto-water racks.) Bottle assembly Each assembly consists of a bottle, seal, and cap. Before washing, place 24 mouse bottles in each M61011 Mouse Bottle Washing Basket or 20 rat bottles in each M61012 Rat Bottle Washing Basket with or without caps. Close the top, securely fasten the latch, and wash with the Bottle Basket inverted. Seals should remain attached to the bottle unless damaged. Some caps are equipped with drinking tubes that must remain attached to the cap unless damaged. Any damaged parts should be immediately removed from circulation and replaced as necessary. Cage Tops with Feeder Do not stack polycarbonate tops in the tunnel wash or autoclave. For storage at room temperature, stack as high as practical by removing the clear feeder lid and alternating the tops front/back orientation. Inspect feeders and tops, and place feeder lids in a separate basket. Replace any damaged parts. Feeders If feeders are to be processed separately from cage tops, follow the directions for feeder changing on the following page, and stack together in groups of 10 to 15 in a wire basket. Visually inspect for bent or broken wires; replace any damaged feeders. Cage Bases Each cage base consists of a cage bottom, one inlet, and one exhaust filter assembly. Visually inspect each cage for cracks, damage or warping. Do not remove filters unless damaged or clogged, in which case they should be replaced with M40040 Cage Filters. Do not stack polycarbonate cages in the tunnel wash or autoclave. Polysulfone cages can be stacked in the autoclave; however, a sample stack of cages should be tested at the maximum expected temperature prior to commencing normal operations. If the bottom cage in the stack is deformed after test autoclaving, the stack must be shortened. When storing at room temperature, stack as high as practical. Page 4

5 M.I.C.E System Standard Operating Procedures 05/2013 Removing Cages 1. When removing cages from the rack, use both hands positioned at opposite sides of the cage. When removing a cage with one hand, grasp the bottom of the front filter or use your thumb and fingers to grasp the lower right corner of the cage. Pull up slightly and straight out to remove. 2. Rest the cage on a clean, flat surface such as an animal transfer station or changing station. 3. To remove the cage top, simply lift it away from the cage; be sure to use proper precautions for bio-safety. Cage Changing 1. Clean the work surface with approved sanitizer, and be sure to keep the sanitizer at the changing station. 2. Place a clean cage base assembly with bedding, fresh feed and water on the changing station. 3. Remove the top for direct access to the animals. 4. Lift each rodent by the base of the tail, and transfer it from the soiled cage to the clean one. 5. Replace top, and reinstall cage in rack. Bottle Changing 1. Lift the empty bottle out of its cavity in the cage top. 2. To remove the cap, grasp it firmly and pull with a twisting motion (the cap is not threaded; twisting will help the cap separate from the seal). 3. Locate the appropriate clean, filled M.I.C.E. System bottle, and reinstall it in the cavity with the drinking tube protruding down into the cage. Feeder Changing 1. Remove cage(s) from the rack, and place in a clean, sterile changing station or work area. Remove the cage top and the plastic feeder cover. 2. Grasp the feeder along the two longer sides near the top rim, and squeeze inward as shown in Figure While squeezing, push the feeder upward through the opening in the cage top as shown in Figure To reinstall, lower the feeder into the opening, and just as it bottoms out, squeeze the sides inward until the recessed section clears tabs on the cage top and becomes captive. Replace the feeder cover. Figure 1: Squeezing sides of feeder Figure 2: Raising feeder out from opening Page 5

6 Cage Bedding M.I.C.E System Standard Operating Procedures 05/2013 It is very important to measure the correct amount of bedding; mouse cages should receive around 1.5 cups and rat cages, around 3.5 cups. The bedding should be spread evenly across the floor of the cage and between 3/8 and 1/2 deep. Too much, too little, or too absorbent bedding keeps moisture trapped inside the cage. Animals can also pile up large amounts of bedding in front of the filters, which then hinders airflow through the cage. We recommend aspen shavings, corncob or similar type of cage bedding. Correct amount of bedding Too much bedding Feed Fill the feeder with an appropriate volume of dry feed. Do not fill past the upper rim of the feeder, as this will prevent the feeder cover from closing properly. Replacing Cages on the Rack When replacing a cage on the rack, ensure the cage is firmly seated on the shelf, and the exhaust nozzle is fully inserted into the plenum module. Sight along each row horizontally and each column vertically to identify any cage misalignment. Note: Place only complete cage assemblies on rack with animals, feed, bedding, and water bottle or water valve. DO NOT place cage on rack without filters and a properly fitted cage top. Cages may be installed in any order. DO NOT USE RACK TO STORE EMPTY CAGES. Disruptive Conditions Not even ACS vibration-free racks can prevent disruption to the animals in a construction zone. If there is any construction/renovation work being done in or near your facility, we strongly recommend placing vibration isolator pads under all of the rack s casters. This practically eliminates the vibration from power tools and other noise. These pads are available from Grainger or other industrial suppliers or can be purchased from ACS. Contact your sales rep for details. Top graph: Vibration levels with no construction noise. Middle graph: Vibration levels with construction noise, no pads. Bottom graph: Vibration levels with construction noise and vibration isolator pads. Page 6