Australian BioResources

Environment Monitoring

The environment of the mice must be standardised to minimise experimental variability

// Environment Monitoring

Facility Environment

All animal holding areas are maintained within a constant temperature (20-22C) and humidity (40-60%) range to avoid animal stress and to minimise experiment variability. Lighting in animal rooms ensures 13 hours light and 11 hours darkness with a dawn / dusk simulation.

Air is filtered in animal holding areas using Hepa (high efficiency particulate air) filters located around each biobubble or on the air entry in each room in the Building 3 Breeding Area. Air filtration protects the mice from air-borne diseases. A pressure differential system uses positive air pressure to protect animal areas when doors are opened.

Environmental conditions are monitored 24 hours a day by a Building Management System (BMS). The BMS can pinpoint equipment failure, raise alarms and optimise functional efficiency. A 24 hour team responds to alarms so equipment failures are dealt with quickly.
Redundancy of all major plant protects the mice from environmental variation.

Feed, Bedding and Water Quality

The provision of sanitised water, feed and bedding is critical to maintaining the disease-free status of mice in the facility.

Feed is gamma irradiated and the external surface of the feedbag is disinfected via hydrogen peroxide fumigation. Bedding is sterilised at 121°C for 15 minutes in steam sterilisers (autoclaves).

Water is treated by filtration and reverse osmosis that removes impurities. The water is then treated by UV light and acidified to prevent bacterial growth.

The treatment of feed, bedding and water is monitored regularly to ensure quality.