Rodent Non-Survival Surgery: Even though these rodents will not live long enough for infection to become a complication, adherence to the basic tenets of survival surgery are still important for human occupational health concerns, humane animal use, and for collection of accurate research data. Clean surgical procedures must always be used. A separate room is desirable; however, a non-survival rodent surgical procedure in a conventional laboratory setting using clean technique is acceptable. The following are minimum standards for aseptic procedures in rodents done in investigator laboratories: 

• A clean uncluttered work area, away from break areas and out of the human traffic flow, for the re-procedure, procedure, and post-procedure recovery. This can be the same or proximate area.

• A disinfected work surface using Clidox, Chlorhexidiene, Clorox, quaternary ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide is a good idea.  For non-survival surgery areas, at a minimum, alcohol should be used as a sole disinfection if necessary.

• Current dated anesthetics and analgesics must be used. If volatile (inhaled) anesthetics are being used, an appropriate scavenging system must be in use.

• Monitoring of depth of anesthesia with supplementation of anesthetic as necessary to maintain anesthesia. 

• The use of clean instruments, supplies, and wound closure materials. Surgical procedures may be performed on multiple rodents during a single session using one clean surgical pack.  Re-cleaning instruments between animals is not required.

• A surgical mask and gloves should be worn by the surgeon and any assistants working in the immediate surgical field. Additional personal protection equipment (PPE) may also be used as desired.

• Euthanasia of non-survival animals SHOULD NOT use the anesthetic as the sole means of euthanasia.  A secondary methods should also be employed (cervical dislocation of rodents, thoracic chest incision, severing of the great vessels internally, etc.).

Controlled Substances:

• Maintain proper control and administrative record keeping by record keeping by recording the date, time, animal identification, dose, resulting balance, and a signature of the individual administering the dose.

• Maintain the drug in a locked storage drawer, cabinet, or safe.