Facilities Flashcards
What standards must be employed for work involving administration of radionucelotides to animals?
Nuclear Regulatory Commission standard (Code of Federal Regulations)
What does the acronym ALARA stand for in the context of radioactivity
As Low As Reasonable Achievable
How many half lives of decay are required before a carcass or waste can be disposed into non radioactive waste streams.
10 half lives
T or F
It is ideal to house aquatic systems in the highest part of the facility to allow gravity to help with flow through.
F
Aquatic systems such as those for fish or frogs should be housed on the lowest floor, because water is heavy and in case of a flood.
What does the acronym GRI refer to in reference to water and electricity?
Ground Fault Interrupted
-outlets in areas where water is heavily used (most animal facilities) should be equipped with this
T or F
The term “cleaning” and “sanitization” can be used interchangeably.
F
- cleaning is simply the removal of organic and non-organic debrie from surfaces
- sanitization is cleaning PLUS disinfection- which is the use of chemical or heat to reduce the presence of microorganisms
T or F
Sanitization can be achieved at a temperature of 143 if exposed for 30min
T
-also 180 degree for 1 s
-or 161 degree at 15s
(these standards were set by the National Sanitation Foundation)
What is the most common use for “tunnel” washers
To sanitizing rodent shoebox cages or waste collection pans or racks of water bottles
What is the advantage of an Index tunnel washer
- separated wash and rinse chambers and can be set such that the belt will stop at each section for a particular amount of time
- should limit contamination between clean ad dirty areas
What is the temperature range used in the autoclave chamber?
121-132 degrees CELSIUS
250-270F
T or F
Chemical or rust inhibitors should be added to steam that will be used for animal cages, feed or bedding, due to the moisture and likelihood of rust accumulating.
F clean steam (not contaminated with chemicals or generated by boilers) should be used
What are foundry robots and how might they be used in a lab animal setting.
The have articulating appendages- they are part of robotic cage wash systems. Used to grab and dump dirty rodent cages load them in the tunnel washer. And then another one grabs the clean cages and fills with bedding and stacks for use.
What component of modern animal facilities is likely to be the most expensive?
The HVAC system
What is the filtration efficiency of HEPA filters for particles of 0.3micron in diameter?
At least 99.97%
What type of filter is commonly used to help remove volatile contaminants
activated carbon filters
What are venture-type air valves (aka Phoenix valves) used for?
used to consistently supply or exhaust a pre-set airflow rate in order to create pressure differentials
At what level is the static pressure differential maintained?
- 02-0.08 inches of water column (WC)
- higher static pressure is desirable in quarantine and hazard use areas
- if static pressure gets too high (0.25inWC) then doors will be difficult or impossible to open!
Air velocity in animal rooms should not exceed what rate (NIH design policy and guidelines)
0.25m/s at 1.8M elevation
What is the typical temperature set point for rabbit rooms?
66-68 F
What device is used to measure moisture content in supply air and feed back to the steam injector or water atomizer to adjust humidity?
-humidostat
How is air dehumidified?
lowering the air temp as it passes over the cooling coil
What are the current recommendations for light intensity at the cage level?
130-325lux
What is the effect on reproduction of continuous lighting
Overstimulate reproduction
- cessation of cycling
- permanent vaginal cornification
- excess ovarian follicles
What level of KHz is considered ultrasound?
> 20Khz
T or F
Mice can hear at <1kHz but not > 20kHz
F
They can not hear at low-frequency like 0.2khz
but they can hear ultrasound >20
List some mouse strains that are susceptible to audiogenic seizures?
Balb/C, AKR, CBA, C57, DBA
-FVB
What is the noise recommendation level of the NIH Design Requirements Manual for Animal Research Facilities?
should not exceed NC-45 (noise criteria)
What is the relationship between NH3 and relative humidity with the microenvironment of rodent caging
As humidity increases in the macro or micro environment so does ammonia
How is ammonia produced in the rodent cage
formed by urease producing bacteria (or bedding with urealytic and urease activating enzymes) that break down urea into ammonia
Is pine shaving or corn cob bedding more resistant to ammonia build-up related to relative humidity
corn-cob
What is the established standard acceptable level offor NH3 in mouse cages?
currently there is not one according to the Guide, however recommendations are that inspired air should not exceed 25ppm (this is the human 8hr TWA)
What is the 8hr TWA for human exposure to CO2
5000ppm
Stainless steel is the most commonly used metal for equipment and caging in animal facilities. What is the difference between 304 and 316 SS?
Based on the amount of nickel and chromium
-molybneum is added to 316 to make it more corrosion resistant
What concerning byproduct is likely to be leached from polycarbonate or polysulfone cages? Especially at high temperatures but maybe at room temperature once the plastics are aged?
Bisphenol A
According to the AWA Regulations dogs or cat cannot be housed on bars or wire less than ____diameter, unless it is coated with plastic or fiberglass
1/8inch
section 3.6
T or F
Interdigital cysts in beagles were to be associated with flat bar polyvinyl chloride coated bars.
T
as compared to non-coated or diamond shaped coated bars
What are the recommendations (from the BB) for NH3, CO2 limits and air flow in IVC.
<25PPM NH3, 5000ppm CO2 and <50linear feet per minute (lfpm). Providing temp and RH are within the limits prescribed in the Guide
What is one method to reduce heat load in the macroenviroment when using high stocking density IVC?
Vent the exhaust air directly into the building exhaust rather than back into the room.
T or F
Most commonly fed lab animal diets are “closed” formula diets
T
These diets do not disclose the individual components of the diet though a guaranteed analysis is provided, and some components may change depending on availability
“open formula diets are manufactured with an established known ingredient formulation
What type of diets are required by the FDA for GLP studies
Certified
- analysis for environmental contaminants that may interfere with study or results
- heavy metals, hydrocarbons, organophosphates etc
What is the typical shelf life of most lab animal diets as prescribed in the Guide?
180d
except GP and NHP food that has vitamin C should be used by 90d, unless the manufacturers guarantees otherwise
What are the storage temp and humidity requirements for natural ingredient diets?
les than 70F and 50% humidity
List some types of bedding made from hardwood.
aspen, birch, beech, maple
Name the softwood beddings that have volatile aromatic amines that may alter hepatic enzymes (P450) and interfere xenobiotic processing
pine, cedar
what is xenobiotic processing?- metabolism of foreign substances
What type of bedding is best at inhibiting ammonia build-up in mice cages?
corn-cob
excellent for use in conventional micro isolator cages
What does reverse osmosis remove from water?
ultrafiltration membrane
removes 99% of inorganic compounds, dissolved ions, organic compounds, toxins, pyrogens, heavy metals and microorganisms
What is hydrochloric acid or chlorine added back to drinking water for rodents, after removal by RO
reduce bacteria growth
What is the typical pH level to which water should be acidified?
2.5-3.0
What type of pipes should be used using acidified water?
corrosion resistant
- plastic polymers
- type 316 stainless steel (has molybdenum added to it
What is typically added to mouse drinking water in order to increase the the chlorine levels (especially after RO). And what is the appropriate PPM of chlorine
sodium hypochlorite
literature lists anywhere from 0.5-10ppm, ideal is 6-8ppm to eliminate P. aerginosa
What product may form when chlorine interacts with organic material?
trihalomethane
-may be cytotoxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic
What might be leached into drinking water from autoclaved glass bottles?
silicone
What is appropriate PSI for rodent drinking valves?
3 PSI
T or F
Isopropyl alcohol is more bacteriocidal than ethanol
T
