Procedural guidelines for the maintenance and management of small animal surgical facilities within a research laboratory, including recommendations for the application and conduct of aseptic surgery on rodents and lagomorphs

The daily operation, maintenance and management of an operating suite in a research laboratory varies considerably with that of a "standard" veterinary hospital establishment. Rather than the provision of a dedicated rodent operating suite, often such facilities only comprise a separate room, a portion of a room, or even less, an area of a bench which is prepared and thoroughly disinfected for experimental surgery. This area of research requires staff with either formal training or long-term experience in laboratory animal science, as well as competence in the use of microsurgical instruments, often ingenuity in implementing novel devices according to particular needs, and quite regimented facility maintenance and management schedules. In such organizations, it is commonly the appointed senior animal technologist (AT) or an experienced scientist, rather than veterinary staff, who is charged with the responsibility of suite management. This article describes the principles of practice used in managing such facilities, how they should be prepared for use, how and why they should be routinely maintained and monitored, and reasons behind why this is necessary.