The IACUC reviews and approves all surgical areas. In addition, all surgical areas are subject to inspection during semi-annual facility inspections.
All areas used for surgery in animals must be designed and managed to achieve the following:
- Separation of the animal/surgeon preparation, operating room and recovery areas.
- Minimization of personnel traffic flow through the surgery area
- Airflow should be away from the surgery area if possible (i.e., positive room pressure, use of filtered or laminar-flow air).
- All surfaces must be non-porous and easily sanitized. Unsanitizable surfaces (e.g. cloth-upholstered chairs) should be removed to an area where live animals are not used.
- A regular room-cleaning and disinfection schedule must be established (daily cleaning of floors and work surfaces, weekly to monthly cleaning of walls and cabinets).
- The surgery area should be free from clutter. Excess items not required for the procedure should be stored in cabinets or drawers.
- A dedicated three-room (prep, operating and recovery) surgical suite is not required for the performance of surgical procedures in rodents. However, the space must be designated/reserved exclusively for surgery while in use and appropriately managed to minimize contamination from other activities in the room while surgical procedures are being performed.
NOTE: Investigators are responsible for cleaning shared surgical facilities after each use.
ULAR maintains several large-animal surgical suites in UCI vivaria; investigators are encouraged to contact Veterinary Services for more information.