Health Surveillance

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• All personnel entering mouse-immune-competent rooms must wear a disposable gown or dedicated uniform and gloves. Additionally, bouffant caps and masks are worn in animal rooms with immunocompromised animals. In biocontainment, the following personal protective equipment (PPE) is required: gown, cap, mask, and two pairs of gloves. Severely immunocompromised animal rooms require a gown, cap, mask, gloves, Tyvek sleeves, and sterile gloves over regular gloves.

Health Monitoring

• Animal health monitoring is a crucial component of laboratory animal care, designed to ensure the well-being of research animals and the validity of experimental results. This includes diagnostic testing, and surveillance programs to detect signs of illness, distress, or pathogen exposure. Timely identification and response to health concerns help prevent outbreaks, support ethical standards, and maintain compliance with regulatory and institutional guidelines.

Health Surveillance Exclusion Lists

• The following exclusion lists outline pathogens monitored under DLAM’s laboratory animal health surveillance program. These lists support colony health, research integrity, and appropriate placement of animals in designated barrier levels. Testing is performed via quarterly PCR screening conducted by Charles River Laboratories, using exhaust air dust (EAD) filters, contact media filters, or other non-invasive sampling methods. Specific panels are used based on the location and immune status of the animals, particularly in immunocompromised or high-value research models.