Animal capacity
- 2000 mice
- 1000 rats
- 300 hamsters
- Possibility of guinea pig housing.
Equipment
- Autoclave (3.6 m3, Getting)
- Decontamination room (H2O2, Bioquell)
- Bottle and cage washing machine (Lancer)
- Hoods for animal change (Tecniplast Interactive Safe Change)
- Anesthetic devices (Isoflurane Minerve)
- Mobile PSMII (Tecniplast)
- Bottle ramp
- H2O Production system (0.2 µm)
- Fire protection
- Ventilated cabinets for separated cages
Laboratory organization
The animal facilities (250 m2) are organized as follows:
Access
- Controlled access, strictly reserved for Physiogenex approved staff
- Entry to a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) area following a shower and wearing a sterile suit
Conventional area
- Light cycle controlled
- Humidity controlled
- Temperature controlled
- 5 housing rooms with individual access for non-SPF animals (10 m2 each) with a ventilated cabinet and a laboratory (12 m2). This housing room can be used for animal screening
Autopsy room
- One autopsy room (6 m2) outside the housing area and laboratories.
Environment
The animals are maintained in rooms under controlled conditions of temperature (22 ± 2°C), humidity (55 ± 10%), light cycle (12h light/12h dark) and air exchange. The animals are maintained at continuously monitored room temperature and humidity.
The air handling system is programmed for 14 air changes per hour, with no re-circulation.
Fresh outside air passes through a series of filters, before being distributed evenly into each room. A high pressure (20 ± 4 Pa) is maintained in the experimentation room to prevent contamination and the spread of pathogens within a rodent colony.
All personnel follow specific guidelines regarding hygiene and clothing when they enter the animal husbandry area.
All personnel possess appropriate experimental accreditation: level 2 for technicians and zootechnicians, level 1 for PhD, MD and Pharm D.