Basic Training on Laboratory Animal Handling and Care

  • Home
  • Basic Training on Laboratory Animal Handling and Care

Basic Training on Laboratory Animal Handling and Care

Proper handling and care of laboratory animals are fundamental aspects of conducting research involving live subjects. This training module aims to provide essential guidelines and techniques for safely and ethically handling and caring for laboratory animals. In a practical course on laboratory animal handling and administration, it’s crucial to cover various routes of administration to ensure the safe and effective delivery of substances such as drugs, fluids, or experimental compounds. By following these principles, researchers can ensure the welfare and well-being of the animals while maintaining the integrity and reliability of their research outcomes.

Why to attend this course?

Basic training on laboratory animal handling and care is essential for researchers, laboratory personnel, and animal caretakers involved in animal research. Throughout the practical course, we will emphasize the importance of proper technique, dose calculation, animal welfare considerations, and adherence to institutional protocols and ethical guidelines. Encourage hands-on practice under supervision to develop proficiency and confidence in administering substances via various routes in laboratory animals. By adhering to ethical principles, implementing best practices in animal husbandry, and prioritizing animal welfare, researchers can ensure the health, well-being, and quality of life of laboratory animals while achieving reliable and reproducible research outcomes. Continuous education, training, and collaboration with veterinary professionals are essential for maintaining high standards of animal care and research integrity in laboratory settings.

Course Content:

Understanding Ethical and Regulatory Framework:

Familiarize with local, national, and international regulations governing the use of animals in research, including Institutional Animal Ethics committee (IAEC) guidelines.
Understanding the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) to minimize the use of animals and optimize experimental procedures.
Importance of animal welfare and well-being in all aspects of animal handling and care.

Safe Handling Techniques:

Practical learning about proper techniques for capturing, restraining, and handling laboratory animals (Rat, Mice, Guinea Pig, Rabbit) to minimize stress and injury to both animals and handlers.
Use appropriate equipment and tools, such as gloves, goggles, and handling devices, to ensure safety and prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases
Consider species-specific behaviors and characteristics when handling different types of laboratory animals.

Routes of administration commonly used in Laboratory Animals:

Oral Gavage Administration:

Description: Administering substances via the oral route involves delivering them directly into the animal's stomach.
Practical Technique: Hands on practical on oral gavage (with appropriate gavage needles) appropriate for species specific.
Ensuring proper dosing and monitor for signs of aspiration or adverse effects.

Subcutaneous Injection:

Description: Injecting substances into the subcutaneous tissue, typically on the dorsal aspect of the animal's neck or back.
Technique: Hands on practical by using a syringe and needle to deliver the substance beneath the skin, taking care to avoid major blood vessels or organs.
Practice proper restraint and aseptic technique to minimize the risk of infection or tissue damage.

Intraperitoneal Injection:

Description: Injecting substances into the peritoneal cavity, which contains organs such as the liver, intestines, and spleen
Technique: Hands on practical by using a syringe and needle to deliver the substance into the lower abdomen slightly to the right or left of the midline, directing it toward the pelvic area
Considerations: Be cautious of potential organ damage and monitor for signs of abdominal discomfort or distension.

Intravenous Injection:

Description: Administering substances directly into a vein, allowing for rapid absorption and distribution throughout the body
Technique: Hands on practical by using a syringe and needle to deliver a suitable vein (e.g., tail vein in rodents, ear vein in rabbit) using a sterile needle and syringe, while maintaining venous patency.
Considerations: Ensure proper needle placement to avoid tissue damage or extravasation, and monitor for signs of adverse reactions.

Intramuscular Injection:

Description: Injecting substances into a muscle, typically the quadriceps or thigh muscles in small laboratory animals.
Technique: Insert the needle perpendicular to the skin surface into the target muscle, aspirating to check for blood return.
Considerations: Use appropriate needle length and gauge, and monitor for signs of injection site reactions or muscle damage.

Topical Administration:

Description: Applying substances directly to the skin or mucous membranes for absorption or local effects
Technique: Administer substances as solutions, ointments, or creams, ensuring proper coverage of the target area.
Considerations: Monitor for skin irritation, systemic absorption, or unintended ingestion.

Inhalation Administration:

Description: Delivering substances directly to the respiratory tract for local or systemic effects.
Technique: Use specialized equipment (e.g., inhalation chambers or nebulizers) to administer gases, vapors, or aerosols.
Considerations: Control exposure levels and monitor respiratory function to prevent respiratory distress or toxicity.

Intradermal Injection:

Description: Injecting substances into the dermal layer of the skin for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Technique: Administer small volumes of the substance into the superficial layers of the skin using a fine needle at a shallow angle.
Considerations: Ensure precise injection technique to avoid leakage or injection site reactions

Environmental Enrichment and Housing:

Types of enriched environments to promote species-specific behaviors, mental stimulation, and overall well-being.
Maintaining housing facilities with appropriate temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation to ensure the comfort and health of the animals.
Regularly clean and sanitize animal housing areas to prevent the spread of pathogens and maintain hygienic conditions

Nutrition and Water:

Need of providing animals with a balanced diet formulated to meet their nutritional requirements, considering factors such as species, age, and health status.
Ensuring access to clean, fresh water at all times, monitoring water quality and consumption to detect any signs of health problems or dehydration.
Implementing feeding schedules and portion control to prevent overfeeding and obesity-related health issues.

Health Monitoring and Veterinary Care:

Ways to establish a regular health monitoring program to detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases within animal populations.
Routine health assessments, including physical examinations, body weight measurements, and assessment of clinical signs.
Implementing feeding schedules and portion control to prevent overfeeding and obesity-related health issues.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

Accurate and detailed records of animal husbandry practices, including feeding schedules, environmental conditions, and health status.
Document any adverse events, incidents, or deviations from standard procedures, and report them according to institutional protocols.
Standardized reporting formats to facilitate communication and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Certification:

Upon successful completion of the course and assessments, participants will receive a certificate in Basic Training on Laboratory Animal Handling and Care, indicating proficiency in handling, injection procedures, husbandry, and national and international rules and regulations in laboratory animal research environments.

About Us

Jackcerra is a full-service consultation firm with record of winning many successful campaigns.
For a growing business firm we provide market research & competitor analysis before a product launch in market.