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The presence of pests in animal colonies can result in contamination of feed and bedding, and the introduction of disease. EH&S is responsible for the pest control program in animal facilities.

Radioactive or biohazardous carcasses and animal wastes must be disposed of according to procedures established by the campus Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S).

The Animal Welfare Act and the Guide for the Care and Use of Animals have established schedules for frequency of cleaning animal rooms and for changing cages.

Bedding must be transported and stored off the floor on pallets, racks, or carts to minimize contamination.

Standardized commercial diets are available for most laboratory species. The vivaria are responsible for providing appropriate diets and for ensuring that food is fresh and free from contaminants. For special research needs, certified diets that have been assayed for commonly encountered environmental contaminants may be necessary.

The lighting in an animal room must meet several needs. It must meet the animals’ biological needs with regard to quantity and periodicity, and must also provide adequate illumination for daily observation and care of the animals. In addition, lighting should be sufficient to ensure safe working conditions for animal care personnel.

The long-accepted ventilation guideline of 10-15 room air changes per hour is based on the observation that this figure provides sufficient ventilation to keep odors below objectionable levels. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in animal facilities require constant monitoring to assure proper ventilation and appropriate temperature and humidity levels.

The design of the cage or primary enclosure can greatly influence the animal’s environment. The environment in the cage (the micro-environment) may differ from the environment of the animal room (the macro-environment).

Laboratory animal housing must conform to ILAR Guide standards and Animal Welfare Act Regulations while meeting research needs.

All arrangements for acquiring and housing vertebrate animals, from any source, must be made through DLAM, except as described below.