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This article reviews both Laboratory Mouse: Procedural Techniques Manual and DVD as well as Laboratory Rat: Procedural Techniques Manual and DVD. Both texts were written by John J. Bogdanske, Scott Hubbard-Van Stelle, Margaret Rankin Riley, and Beth M. Schiffman. These books were chosen together because of the similarities in the content of each text, species similarities, and comparable DVD content. The texts were published by the CRC Press of the Taylor & Francis Group in 2011 in cooperation with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Laboratory.
The authors’ objective is to review and refresh the animal care technician’s previous training of safe laboratory animal handling and procedures. The authors encourage the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper and respectful handling of the animals, and safe techniques for the procedures commonly performed on laboratory rats and mice. If additional instruction or clarity is required of a technique or procedure, the reader is directed to contact the educators at the Research Animal Resources Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Each text is divided into two sections: the first being the rat or mouse DVD text and voice-over for the DVD, and the second section contains rat or mouse procedural technique handouts. The chapters in Section I describe what the reader will be accomplishing and viewing in each chapter, which follows closely with the DVD. Chapters contain such information as appropriate handling and restraint demonstrations of the laboratory rat or mouse, injection techniques, oral gavage, blood drawing techniques, and ear notching methods. The Procedural Techniques for the Laboratory Mouse DVD is set to soothing guitar background music; each chapter opens with an introduction and written description of the procedure. The speaker then clearly and precisely explains the procedure along with appropriate safety practices while the animal care technician demonstrates in action. The DVDs are of good audiovisual quality and the clarity of the images enhances the learning process.
Section II in each text contains the handouts for the rat and mouse procedural techniques. The purpose of what you will learn, the rationale for the technique, and recommended skills and supplies for the particular procedure are outlined as well as step-by-step excellent photos of the previously viewed DVD. Drawn diagrams are included, for instance in the ear notching chapters, as a way to explain the standardized numbering system for identification of the laboratory rodents. The appendices provide supplemental data for laboratory rats and mice such as husbandry, common diseases, “normals” for the species, and additional reference sources.
The texts, Laboratory Rat and Laboratory Mouse Procedural Techniques Manual and DVD are short, easily read/watched manuals that review very basic handling for the animal care technician through the use of discussion and accompanying photographs, enhanced with a clear, understandable DVD demonstrating each procedure discussed. Not only is the safety of the laboratory specimen of concern, but even more importantly, the safety of the human laboratory technicians and researchers. The reader is assumed to have the fundamental laboratory rodent training in place. This is not meant as a primary training tool but to review and refresh existing understanding. Each of the texts is similar in organization and content which conveniently aids in navigation of topics.
Sandra L. Jex is a veterinarian and consultant.