Navigator Newsletter-August 2022

Every Critter Counts

If you maintain a breeding colony, make sure that your IACUC protocol accounts for all animals produced within your colony.

Rodent pups and other mammals are considered live vertebrate animals from the time of birth. As such, they need to be described and justified on an approved IACUC protocol, regardless of whether they will be used in experiments.

Similarly, birds are counted at the time of hatching, and zebrafish are counted at 3 days post-fertilization.

If your experiments require animals of a specific sex or genotype, then you may need to produce additional non-experimental animals of the incorrect sex or genotype.

These non-experimental animals must be included in the animal numbers on your IACUC protocol.

If you have any questions, contact oawrss@uw.edu or your OAW scientific liaison.

Wrap the Cages

Secure all cages with plastic wrap before leaving facilities.

Carefully wrap the 3” shrink wrap around the cage 2-3 times.

Do not cover the whole cage top so the animals are still getting air.

If the animal(s) are returning to the facility, then take a roll of wrap with you to rewrap the cage before returning to the facility. Return the wrap to the facility where you got it upon return.

* Use red wrap for biohazard animal cages.

Use Toggle/Gel Tags

When weaning mice into new cages you must add a “Toggle/Gel” tag to the cage card holder.

Always be sure to toggle the water valve and add a cup with gel into the cage at the time of weaning and housing new arrivals.

Write the date of the first day you toggle and gel onto the tag for DCM husbandry staff. (use dry erase marker in room)

Animal Technicians will continue to toggle the water valve and put gel in the cage every day until they feel confident the animals are drinking from the water valve.

Check out the lesson on Weaning and Sexing Rodents.

Exposed Skin is Unprotected Skin

Pants or skirts must cover skin on legs (in the case of skirts, long skirts with socks covering ankles/calves is acceptable).

If your street clothing does not meet these safety requirements, be sure to change into scrubs provided at the facility.

No open toed shoes in animal facilities please.

This is for YOUR Safety.