THE EWU VIVARIUM

1. THE EWU VIVARIUM

2. The EWU Vivarium • Houses mice and rats for research and class projects for EWU students and faculty • Provides a safe, healthy environment for the humane and ethical use of animals • Is governed by federal laws and the EWU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

3. Access to the EWU vivarium • Access is limited to authorized users who have active projects housed in the facility or who work in the facility. Friends and family are not allowed. • Authorized users must receive training in vertebrate animal use in research, as well as in vivarium procedures. • The vivarium manager requires contact information from all staff and students in order for him to issue an access code and/or a proximity card. If necessary you will be issued an EWU ID card having the proximity chip and will use it to enter the vivarium. Codes and cards may not be shared. The contact information form is available during your first orientation to the vivarium. • Your proximity ID card or code may not be shared with others.

4. Vivarium security • An authorized user’s proximity card is waved by a security reader on the main inner entry door. This records the date and time of entry for this user. A permanent access record is maintained. • Unauthorized entry notifies the Cheney Police, who respond promptly.

5. Vivarium hours • The vivarium access hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. • Only staff and faculty may enter the vivarium during times that it is closed. Special permission is granted by the vivarium manager. • The vivarium is closed from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am every night and all day on weekends and holidays.

6. Hygiene • Mice and rats must be protected from pathogens that may be brought into the vivarium from the outside • Mice and rats must be protected from pathogens that may travel from one animal room to another • Students and workers must be protected from developing allergies to the animals

7. Keeping pathogens out • Upon entry into the vivarium, all outer wear and personal belongings must be stored outside of the “clean area” (boundary designated with a striped yellow line on the floor). • Before entering the clean area, authorized users must wet the bottoms of shoes with a sanitizing solution (Virkon) in an entry mat. If there is not enough solution in the mat, add more from the labeled blue jug. • Muddy or excessively soiled shoes and clothing are not permitted in the vivarium.

8. Preventing spread of pathogens • Hand sanitizer is available at most doorways or as a blue liquid (Nolvasan) in a sprayer. Apply it to gloved hands before handling each animal. • Use sanitizing solution (Oxyvir) in a spray bottle for items moved from one animal room to another.

9. Reducing allergies • Allergies to rodents can be minimized by protecting workers from the animals’ allergens • Gloves and lab coats protect skin and clothing from allergens and are required for all people handling animals • Face masks reduce inhalation of allergens • Animal rooms, racks, and cages have HEPA air filtration systems

10. Lab coats • Clean lab coats are available on a rack next to the bathroom. • Used lab coats are hung on the side hall rack, and are reused unless soiled. • Soiled lab coats are placed in the used linen bins for washing.

11. Rooms in the vivarium include: • Animal housing rooms: where the animals live. (N, P, Q) • Project rooms: for doing experiments with animals. (A, B, C, E, F, R) • Support rooms: for cleaning and storing cages, food, bedding, and equipment. (D, G, H, J, K) • An office and a locker room. (L, M) • Each room is designated by a letter, A through R

12. Animal housing rooms (N, P, Q) • We usually house only one species in a room. • Animals are tracked by the row and column of their cages. Be sure to replace the cages in their original positions. • Be very careful handling the cages as they are very expensive to replace. • Keep animal room doors closed.

13. Project rooms (A, B, C, E, F, G, R) • Student and faculty experimental procedures are conducted in these rooms. • Each project group is assigned to a room, but the room may be shared with others. Please keep it clean and tidy. • Room R is reserved for faculty and graduate student research. It is ordinarily off-limits to other vivarium users.

14. The “dirty” room (J) • Dirty cages are delivered to this room. • Dust from used bedding is full of allergens. Therefore all workers must wear the designated lab coats, gloves, and masks when working in this room. • The lab has a “dump station” for cage cleaning which uses HEPA filtration to control dust and air borne particles. Used bedding is collected into a covered waste can. • Cages and water bottles are cleaned and sanitized in the cage washer.

15. The “clean” room (K) • Only authorized employees may enter this room. • Clean cages, clean bedding, cage enhancements, and food are stored here. • Cages are prepared for the animals. • Do not enter this room after being in the dirty room. • No animals, used cages, soiled lab coats or soiled equipment are permitted in this room. 

16. The “water” room (D) • Clean water bottles, cage card holders , stoppers, and sippers are stored here. • Filtered culinary water is dispensed into the water bottles using the foot-operated faucet. • No animals, used rodent food, used cages, soiled lab coats or equipment are permitted in this room. • This room also serves as a surgical scrub room.

17. The “surgery” room (C) • This room is reserved for surgery or other project procedures requiring a clean or sterile environment • The foot-operated faucet in the “water” room (D) is used for pre-surgical hand washing. • The room must be kept sanitary and tidy at all times.

18. Tracking animals • Each animal cage is identified by a colored cage card in a card holder. The color usually represents the age cohort for the animal(s) inside. • The card specifies the species, sex, birth date, history, principal investigator and an animal ID number and rack location if assigned. • New cards are available on the shelf outside the office. • Please do not tape to or label the cage itself.

19. Research cards • Animals involved in research projects must have a yellow "research" card, in addition to the cage card. • The research card shows the cage number, animal ID number, rack location, investigator and instructor, user contact information, project title in the comments area, etc. • The card must include notes on feeding or handling where appropriate. • This card must be prominently displayed on the card holder.

20. Removing cages from rack • First, remove and reverse the water bottle so the water doesn’t spill into the bedding. • To remove a cage from the rack, push the cage in gently, lift slightly, and pull it out. • Reverse the procedure to replace a cage. A red tab (bottom left figure) on the front of the rack at the cage location indicates improper installation.

21. Supporting or transporting cages • Place cages on a cart or other stable surface before handling the animals. • Always transport cages on a clean stainless steel cart. • If you find a cart to be dirty, use the spray bottle of sanitizer to clean it thoroughly. • Remove the cage top by pressing the green tab at either end. • Tops are placed upside-down on the work surface.

22. Handling mice and rats • Handling animals takes a little practice. • First, spray or wipe your gloved hands with sanitizer. • Moving slowly and deliberately, grasp the tail midway or closer to the body, not at the tip. • Slide your free hand under the animal to supply gentle support, but not too close to the head to avoid a bite. • Animals must be handled over a surface to preclude injury after a drop.

23. Animal bites • Mice and rats usually are not aggressive, but may use the mouth to grasp and move about. • Animals that are handled frequently are less likely to “bite,” because they trust your movements. • What to do if bitten? • Plan ahead to be bitten, and plan how you will react. • Do not react quickly or violently as you may injure the animal. • If bitten, stop your procedure and relax; place the animal on a safe surface, release your grip and let it go, preferably onto a container, a cage top, bar lid, or cage.

24. Report all injuries! • Bites usually are inconsequential, but they can be painful. • If needed, seek medical attention afterward. There are first aid supplies near the vivarium entry. Ask a staff person to assist. • Infection is unlikely. If you have not had a tetanus shot within the last 6 years or so, you should get one. • If bitten you must file an injury report. The report is used to establish that the injury occurred on campus and that you can receive treatment through EWU student health clinic services. Forms are available by the bulletin board. • Leave the completed form on the vivarium manager's desk.

25. Escaped animals • When handling animals keep the room door closed. • If an animal escapes, do not move the furniture or racks. It can't go far, so do your best to retrieve it without injuring it or yourself. • Seek assistance if needed. If no one is present to assist, leave a note on the board next to the animal room door. • If an animal is injured, contact the staff for assistance.

26. Special waste disposal • Scattered around the vivarium are waste containers for sharps (needles, glass). Do not put sharps in the regular trash. • Biological wastes (blood, tissue, contaminated paper towels, syringes without needles) must not be deposited of in regular trash containers, but must be bagged and given to a staff person for appropriate disposal.

27. Disaster Planning • In a vivarium, a “disaster” is any condition or occurrence that threatens the health and well-being of the animals • Examples include infrastructure equipment failure, natural disasters, accidents, and vandalism • Disasters could interrupt electric power or water supply • Disasters could contaminate the air with, for example, volcanic ash or toxic chemicals • The vivarium has a plan, as well as equipment and supplies for dealing with such an event

28. EWU Vivarium Disaster Plan • A list of people to contact in an emergency is posted on the bulletin board. Please familiarize yourself with it. • The EWU Vivarium Disaster Plan is posted on the bulletin board just inside the main vivarium door. Please familiarize yourself with it. • If a disaster occurs, either the vivarium manager (Dr. Satterwhite) or the IACUC Chair (Dr. Carlberg) will take charge. Please follow their instructions.

29. What is expected of you: • As staff, we are here to provide animal services and help to the users. We are not required or authorized to design or execute your experimental protocols. • As users, we treat the animals respectfully and humanely under IACUC guidelines. • Your participation in animal care is welcome but not required. It may facilitate certain aspects of your research project. • Observe safe lab practices and cleanliness protocols. • Communicate with your professor, TA , vivarium manager, and staff. • Plan ahead! Post your work plan and room reservations after clearing them with your TA, professor, and the vivarium manager. Prepare for your procedures well beforehand. • Ask for help when you need it for ANYTHING no matter how trivial it may seem!

30. Help keep it clean ! • Tidiness is important for animal health • Tidiness is important for human health • Cleanliness and tidiness are considerate for other students and workers