Rodent Satellite Housing Facilities

    Revision Date: 
    June 14, 2023
    Responsible Office: 
    Animal Research

    Operational Requirements for Rodent Satellite Housing Facilities

    These requirements are considered the minimum standards for maintaining rodents outside of a Yale Animal Resources Center (YARC)-managed space for greater than 8 days or permanently. This information is consistent with YARC SOPs. Unless a deviation to these requirements is specifically approved by the IACUC, compliance with these standards is expected. Please see the “Satellite Housing” policy for more information.

    General Guidelines

    • All animals must be placed in a secure, intact (undamaged), clean, fully assembled, bar coded, static microisolator cage prior to being relocated to a satellite housing location
    • All supplies, cages, bedding, food and water must be acquired from YARC, unless non-YARC housing and food/water are approved in the protocol. These supplies include:
      • Extra fully assembled cages
      • All mouse and rat caging must provide standard environmental enrichment materials unless the absence of enrichment is approved in the IACUC protocol.
      • All cages must be labeled with bar coded cards identifying the protocol

    Daily Requirements

    Consistent with the expectations of YARC animal care technicians, the cage, animal health, bedding, and food/water must be checked daily for all occupied cages and documented on the Lab Housing Daily and Weekly Log

    • Ensure that water bottles are at least 2/3 full, the water is clean, and the stopper is not leaking.
      • Refer to the “Mouse and Rat: Water Levels” sign for bottle changing guidance
    • Ensure that there is sufficient food for the number of animals in the cage (3-4 pellets per mouse and 6-8 pellets per rat.
      • Refer to the “Mouse and Rat: Food Level” sign for guidance
    • Ensure that greater than 2/3 of the bedding is dry.  Bedding must be free of mold.
      • Refer to the “Mouse and Rat: Bedding Conditions” sign for guidance.
    • Ensure that cage density conforms with IACUC species-specific Rodent Housing Policies (Mouse and Rat)
    • Assess animal health
    • Environmental Monitoring and Sanitation
      • Check and record temperature and relative humidity hygrometers that are capable of recording maximum and minimum values
        • Temperature should be between 68-79°F and humidity should be between 30-70%. If intending to hold animals outside of the recommended ranges, IACUC approval is required.
        • If parameters are out-of-range, animals may need to be moved to another location. Contact Facility Operations at (203) 432-6888 and confirm that the out-of-range readings are in the process of being corrected, and, consult with YARC (203) 785-2526.
      • Lighting should be diffused throughout the area and provide sufficient illumination for the animals’ well-being and a safe work environment
      • - Maintaining approximately a 12:12 light:dark cycle is recommended. If intending to hold animals outside of the recommended ranges, IACUC approval is required.
      • All sections of the required log(s) must be completed when the room is occupied, including a note indicating the disposition of the animals (euthanized or returned to an approved YARC location)

    Weekly Requirements

    • The entire cage needs to be replaced (cage, water bottle, bedding, food and wire-top) every 7 days or sooner, if needed
      • Cage changing must be performed in a biosafety cabinet or fume hood, or with appropriate respiratory protection (fitted N95)
      • Changing on the benchtop with other personnel nearby is not permitted unless all in the room are wearing respiratory protection
    • Restock and organize personal protective equipment (PPE) and room supplies
    • Wipe the housing area with a virucidal disinfectant (e.g. MB-10 or Rescue) where the animals are housed at least weekly for continuous use and before and after each cohort of animals for intermittent use
    • Check the expiration date on all disinfectant containers and replace disinfectant as needed

    Security and Emergency Procedures

    • Access to the housing area should be limited to authorized individuals only
      • Medically cleared to work with the species housed
      • Appropriately trained to provide husbandry care for the species housed
      • Experience and qualifications approved by the IACUC/OARS
    • Update emergency signage and other documents as needed

    Transportation

    Transporting animals to and from the location will be consistent with the policy for Transportation of Animals (Intra-Institutional).