The use of filter tops as a short term protective barrier in laboratory animal management

Abstract

A new quality conventional animal colony has been built at the University of Bergen. The colony was to be opened at the begining of October 1983. Due to delays the colony could not be opened before the begining of December 1983. A researcher had ordered a group of 200 C3H/tifBom SPF quality (LAC**** standard) female mice that were to be at least 360 days old at the time of delivery. The mice were delivered to the colony one month before the expected opening date. As a result of this, the mice had to be housed in an existing conventional colony housing several species and high background contamination.

An emergency measure was thus conceived that would allow the mice to remain in the conventional colony and simultaneously be as well protected as possible from the surrounding environment. Pending a low grade of inocuous contamination, the mice would be transferred to the new colony on opening. In this way an attempt would be made to reduce the degree of contamination of the new colony.

It was decided that the mice should be transferred from the unopened transport containers into macrolon III cages covered by filter tops. Special routines were introduced to reduce the chance of contamination.