Practical guidelines for aseptic surgery in rodents and the management of surgical facilities in a laboratory : ANZCCART fact sheet

The daily operation and management of an operating suite in a research laboratory varies considerably with that of a veterinary hospital establishment. Rather than the provision of a series of dedicated rodent operating suites, often such facilities only comprise of a separate room, a portion of a room, or even less, an area of a bench which is thoroughly disinfected and prepared for surgery. This area of research generally requires staff with formal training and experience in laboratory animal science. It also requires competance in the use of microsurgical instruments, often ingenuity in ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“manufacturingââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ novel devices according to special needs, and regimented facility maintenance and management schedules.