The use, transport and storage of private equipment at the Animal Facility

General Rule:Avoid bringing private equipment into the Animal Facility.

Personal Items:If you need to bring personal items (e.g., keys, mobile phone) into the facility:

• Store them in a box with a smooth, disinfectable surface upon entry.
• Mobile phones mist be placed in plactic bag
• When removing items from the box, change gloves and disinfect hands before touching other objects.
• After use, return belongings to the box and keep it closed.

Cleaning After Work:When you have finished your work and packed away the equipment you used:

• Clean your workspace thoroughly.
• Equipment belonging to the animal department (including work surfaces) must be cleaned as follows:
  1. Wash away visible dirt with soap and water.
  2. Spray the surface with the provided disinfectant (commonly Virkon) so it remains moist for approximately 10 minutes.

Before Leaving:Wash your hands with soap and water before exiting the animal room or laboratory.

• All medicines and injectables (including test substances, cells, etc.) must be prepared sterilely in a LAF bench.
• Place prepared items in a clean plastic container with a lid, using the smallest size possible.
• Before entering the animal ward, wipe the container thoroughly with an alcohol-based disinfectant.
• Medicines must never be stored in front rooms or laboratories!
• Drugs must be stored in special drug storage cabinets.

Important:The same cleaning and surface disinfection requirements apply to all other equipment, including larger items brought into the facility.

• Equipment must be stored according to its specific requirements.
• Equipment may only remain in the facility while the project’s approval license is valid.
• No later than one month after the license expires, all equipment must be removed. Items left behind will be discarded.

• The animal department provides large project lockers for temporary storage of equipment.
• Private research equipment may be stored in these lockers.
• A dedicated locker for medicines is available in the animal facility.
  • Medicines must never be stored in front rooms or laboratories!
  • Drugs must be stored in special drug storage cabinets.
• Contact the operations manager if you need access to a locker.

• Equipment located in shared spaces (e.g., laboratories, operating rooms) is considered available for use by everyone.
• Before using equipment owned by someone else:
  • Contact the equipment owner for permission.
  • Ensure you receive any necessary training before use.

If you have equipment in the animal facility that must not be used by others, it should be stored or locked away in an agreed location.

• Contact the Animal Facility in advance if you plan to bring equipment that requires significant space or connections to electricity, water, or the central gas system.
• This ensures we can verify that the equipment is compatible with our infrastructure and that appropriate arrangements are in place.

Marking of Equipment

• All equipment must be clearly marked with:

  • The name of the department
  • The name and telephone number of the person responsible for the equipment

• Unmarked equipment will be removed and discarded.