SOP FOR HANDLING AND RESTRAINING OF LABORATORY ANIMALS | STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING AND RESTRAINING OF LABORATORY ANIMALS

1.0 OBJECTIVE

1.1 To lay down a standard procedure to be followed for handling and restraining of laboratory animals in Animal House Facility.

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) shall be applicable for handling and restraining of animals in Animal House Facility.

3.0 RESPONSIBILITY

3.1 Head- Animal House Facility

3.2 All personnel involved in housing, breeding, weaning and sexing of laboratory animals

4.0 DEFINITIONS

4.1 Nil

5.0 PROCEDURE

5.1 General Principles

5.1.1 Proper restraint and handling techniques should be followed to minimize stress to animals and also to the person handling the animal else the animals can inflict serious injuries to the person handling.

5.1.2 Handle animals gently. Do not make sudden movements that may startle the animals.

5.1.3 Handle animals firmly. The animal will struggle more if it sees a chance to escape.

5.1.4 Use restraint devices to assist whenever required.

5.1.5 Chemical restraint should be considered for any prolonged or potentially painful procedure or as per the Study Plan (SP).

5.1.6 If animal struggles during handling, leave it to home cage for some time and then proceed.

5.2 Procedure for the handling of Mice

5.2.1 Hold mouse by the base of the tail, preferably the proximal part.

5.2.2 Place the mouse on a rough surface like a working bench or steel mesh while still holding the tail.

5.2.3 Grasp lose the skin over neck and ear with thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand.

5.2.4 Lift mouse and hold the tail with another hand or secure tail between small/ ring finger and palm.

5.2.5 Restraining the mouse by the scruff. This allows the performing of many technical procedures.

5.3 Procedure for the handling of Rats

5.3.1 The skin of the rat’s tail is fragile and easily stripped from the underlying tissue. Great care should be taken when handling a rat by its tail. The tail should be grasped at the base only.

5.3.2 A rat is capable of curling up and biting when it is suspended by its tail.

5.3.3 Lift the rat from the cage by either the base of the tailor by gently grasping around the thorax with the thumb and middle finger behind the two front legs.

5.3.4 Rats should be lifted by grasping the thorax. The grip must be firm without obstructing the animal’s respiration.

5.3.5 Place the animal on cage mesh or on a suitable rough surface to permit grasping.

5.3.6 Firmly grip the scruff with the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand. See annexure No. A……………

5.3.7 Never lift the rat by the loose skin on the back of the neck.

5.4 Procedure for Rabbit handling

5.4.1 Lift the rabbit from the cage by grasping the loose skin that covers the shoulders.

5.4.2 Place the rabbit on a clean towel or similar rough surface.

5.4.3 Rabbits can also, be restrained by using a towel. The towel should be wrapped around the animal's body by keeping the ears exposed.

5.4.4 Rabbits may also be restrained by grasping the rabbit firmly on the back of the neck. Grasp the hind legs with the opposite hand and pull the legs into an extended position.

5.4.5 Upon completion of the procedure, return the rabbit to the cage by placing the rump first to prevent the rabbit from jumping prematurely into the cage.

5.5 Procedure for Guinea pigs

5.5.1 Guinea pig should be restrained using two hands.

5.5.2 The dominant hands should be used to grasp the animal’s thorax from below opposing the thumbs and fingers on either side of the animal’s chest.

5.5.3 The second hand is used to support the hindquarter.

5.5.4 For restrain with greater control, the animals can be held using the same grip however the animal should be grasped around the thorax from the back and then the handling should be grasped and extend it.

6.0 ENCLOSURES

6.1 Formats

Sr. No.	Format Title	Format No.	No. of pages

7.0 ABBREVIATIONS

7.1 SOP : Standard Operating Procedure

7.2 QAD : Quality Assurance Department

7.3 AHF : Animal House Facility

7.4 MBD : Microbiology Department

7.5 SP : Study plan

8.0 REFERENCES

8.1 Michael S. Rand. “Handling, Restraint, and Techniques of Laboratory Rodents”. The University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ, October 11, 1996.

8.2 The Laboratory Rat – Second Edition, Academic Press, Edited By – Mark A Suckow, (2006), 589-590.

8.3 The Laboratory Mouse – Elsevier Academic Press, edited by Hans Hedrich, 2004, 518-525.

9.0 REVISION HISTORY

Sr. No.	Change Control No.	Reason for change

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