Share thisIn laboratory animal science, there are visible soils (proteinaceous soil, urine scale, oils, etc.) and a myriad of microbial clutter that, while not visible to the naked eye, are extremely important to eradicate from the environment.
A controlled and reproducible environment is essential to the efficacy of reliable research and to the maintenance of high quality animal care. The animal facility personnel must be exceedingly vigilant to monitor and eliminate zoonotic and contagious infectious agents from the laboratory animal’s environment.
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 1996, pg. 42, states:
“The frequency and intensity of cleaning and disinfection should depend on what is needed to provide a healthy environment for an animal, in accord with its normal behavior and physiological characteristics. Methods and frequencies of sanitation will vary with many factors….”
Not only is it important to maintain a sanitary and controlled environment, but also it must be done with products that are as safe as possible for animals and personnel. Finally, these products must meet the basic concerns of efficiency, cost effectiveness, and quality control. Animal facilities are high density housing areas. While we use modern cleaning and application equipment (cage washers, high pressure washers, foggers and sprayers, etc.) we rely most heavily on chemicals. Liquid cleaners, disinfectants, powdered products that are mixed on site, and gaseous products that are used in specialty applicators, are in the sanitation arsenal. The ultimate goal is the reduction or elimination of microbial clutter in the animal environment (Figure 1).