Animal Laboratory Design and Comprehensive Renovation

An animal laboratory, also known as an animal facility, is a specialized facility designed for the housing, breeding, and experimentation of animals. It must meet specific environmental conditions to ensure animal health and the accuracy of experimental results. These facilities are classified according to their microbial control levels into open systems, barrier systems, and isolator systems. SPF-grade animal laboratories fall under the category of barrier systems, which enforce strict controls on personnel access, material flow, and air exchange. Their purpose is to breed clean or specific pathogen-free (SPF) laboratory animals and require professional certification.

Experimental animals are classified into four levels based on microbial control standards: ordinary animals, clean animals, animals without specific pathogens, and sterile or germ-free animals. Each type of animal has progressively stricter standards for pathological examinations, ranging from basic physical health to higher-level requirements for sterile tissue structures.

The environmental design of the animal housing strictly follows the requirements of different grades of animals. Sterile, known-bacteria, and SPF animals need to live in highly controlled sterile or near-sterile environments, which is usually achieved through isolation systems, barrier systems, semi-barrier systems, open systems, and laminar flow rack systems. The isolation system provides an absolutely sterile " glove box " type living environment for sterile animals; the barrier system creates a broader sterile clean space suitable for long-term breeding of SPF animals; the semi-barrier system and laminar flow rack system serve as flexible solutions, respectively reducing the strict management requirements for personnel entry and providing local sterile environments; the open system, although does not implement purification measures for entry and exit, still maintains basic cleanliness management.

The location and design of the experimental animal room must adhere to strict standards, aiming to create an environment that is conducive to the health of the animals and meets the requirements of scientific research.

1. Site selection requirements: It should be located in an area with clean environment, tranquility, higher terrain, good drainage and ventilation, with stable water and electricity supply, and far away from potential pollution sources such as factories, densely populated residential areas, slaughterhouses, etc. It is recommended to build it in an independent area to reduce external interference.
2. Construction design:
   1. Cleaning preparation room: The space is set according to the actual operation requirements, ensuring the proper placement of disinfection and sterilization equipment.
   2. Layout and isolation: The production area (experimental zone) and auxiliary area are clearly separated by walls without cracks, and attention is paid to the design without sharp edges to enhance cleanliness and safety.
   3. Top and wall materials: The materials should be easy to clean and disinfect, corrosion-resistant, non-friable, non-cracking, no reflection, impact-resistant, smooth and waterproof, ensuring smooth and seamless connections, facilitating cleaning and disinfection.
   4. Floor: The material should be slip-resistant, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, non-leaking, and the threshold should not protrude from the wall. In damp areas and areas frequently washed with water, waterproof treatment should be done for the floor.
   5. Windows and doors: The windows and doors of the barrier environment facilities' purification area should have good sealing performance. The sealed doors of the barrier environment facilities should preferably open towards the room with higher air pressure and be able to automatically close. Observation windows should be installed on the doors of each room, and interlock devices should be set on the doors of the buffer room. Reliable sealing measures should be adopted for the construction and construction gaps of the doors and windows.
3. Functional systems:
   1. Air conditioning and air purification: The division and air conditioning method selection should be economically reasonable, conducive to the disinfection, automatic control, and energy-saving operation of the experimental animal facilities, while avoiding cross-contamination and meeting the temperature, humidity, and air purification requirements of different areas.
   2. Water supply and drainage: Ensure clean water quality. The purified area of the barrier environment facilities and the isolation environment facilities' water supply should meet aseptic requirements. The isolation area should have independent water supply, and the drainage of the experimental animal production facilities and experimental animal experiment facilities should be set separately from other domestic drainage.
   3. Lighting: Simulate the natural light cycle, adopt a lighting system with adjustable brightness, and avoid strong light affecting the animals.
4. Operation and management:
   1. Scientific management: From design and construction to daily operation and maintenance, follow professional guidance and regular inspections to ensure environmental quality.
   2. Systems and training: Establish sound management systems and operating procedures, strengthen personnel training and professional qualities, and hold certificates for work.
   3. Health monitoring: Regular physical examinations for staff to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases.
   4. Flow control: Strictly implement the principle of unidirectional circulation of personnel, items, and animals to avoid cross-contamination.
   5. Disinfection and maintenance: Adopt appropriate disinfection methods for different items, regularly maintain equipment and monitor environmental indicators.
   6. Daily records and waste disposal: Record the entry and exit of personnel, items, experimental situations, and environmental parameters in detail. Animal carcasses should be safely disposed of in accordance with regulations.

In conclusion, the construction and management of experimental animal rooms is a comprehensive system project. It not only requires high physical environment control but also combines rigorous management systems with the professional qualities of personnel to ensure the accuracy of scientific research and animal welfare.