Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Note
  • Published:

Containment Capabilities of Animal Transfer Stations

Lab Animal volume 32, pages 28–31 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Animal-transfer and cage-changing stations are portable downdraft-filtered clean benches that have been specifically modified for small-rodent handling and cage changing from two or more sides, and that are advertised by their manufacturers as providing improved laboratory animal allergen control. The authors evaluated the dust containment capability of three such devices under exaggerated challenge conditions, compared design features, and conclude that animal-transfer stations can be a useful addition to an institutional laboratory animal allergy control program.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lutsky, I.I. & Neuman, I. Laboratory animal dander allergy: I. An occupational disease. Ann. Allergy 35, 201–205 (1975).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cockcroft, A., Edwards, J., McCarthy, P. & Andersson, N. Allergy in laboratory animal workers. Lancet 1, 827–830 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dewdney, J.M. Allergy induced by exposure to animals. J. R. Soc. Med. 74, 928–932 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH Alert: Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers. Publication No. 97-116 (NIOSH, Cincinnati, OH, 1998).

  5. Bush, R.K., Wood, R.A. & Eggleston, P.A. Laboratory animal allergy. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 102, 99–112 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Edwards, R.G., Beeson, M.F. & Dewdney, J.M. Laboratory animal allergy: the measurement of airborne urinary allergens and the effects of different environmental conditions. Lab. Anim. 17, 235–239 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kacergis, J.B. et al. Air quality in an animal facility: particulates, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 57, 634–640 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gordon, S., Tee, R.D., Stuart, M.C. & Newman Taylor, A.J. Analysis of allergens in rat fur and saliva. Allergy 56, 563–567 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Yamauchi, C., Obara, T., Fukuyama, N. & Ueda, T. Evaluation of a one-way airflow system in an animal room based on counts of airborne dust particles and bacteria and measurements of ammonia levels. Lab. Anim. 23, 7–15 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ziemann, B., Corn, M., Ansari, A.A. & Eggleston, P. The effectiveness of the Duo-Flo bioclean unit for controlling airborne antigen levels. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 53, 138–145 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Jones, R.B. et al. The effect of relative humidity on mouse allergen levels in an environmentally controlled mouse room. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 56, 398–401 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gordon, S., Wallace, J., Cook, A., Tee, R.D. & Newman Taylor, A.J. Reduction of exposure to laboratory animal allergens in the workplace. Clin. Exp. Allergy 27, 744–751 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Reeb-Whitaker, C.K., Harrison, D.J., Jones, R.B., Kacergis, J.B., Myers, D.D. & Paigen, B. Control strategies for aeroallergens in an animal facility. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 103, 139–146 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Reeb-Whitaker, C.K. & Harrison, D.J.F. Practical management strategies for laboratory animal allergy. Lab Anim. (NY) 28, 25–30 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fisher, R., Saunders, W.B., Murray, S.J. & Stave, G.M. Prevention of laboratory animal allergy. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 40, 609–613 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Eggleston, P.A. et al. Task-related variation in airborne concentrations of laboratory animal allergens: studies with Rat n I. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 84, 347–352 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gordon, S., Kiernan, L.A., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., Cook, A.D., Tee, R.D. & Newman Taylor, A.J. Measurement of exposure to mouse urinary proteins in an epidemiological study. Occup. Environ. Med. 54, 135–140 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gordon, S., Fisher, S.W. & Raymond, R.H. Elimination of mouse allergens in the working environment: assessment of individually ventilated cage systems and ventilated cabinets in the containment of mouse allergens. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 108, 288–294 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Thulin, H., Bjorkdahl, M., Karlsson, A.S. & Renstrom, A. Reduction of exposure to laboratory animal allergens in a research laboratory. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 46, 61–68 (2002).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Baker Company, NuAire Incorporated, and Labconco Corporation for temporary loan of their animal-transfer and cage-changing stations. We thank several individuals in the Yale Animal Resources Center, including Rod Storer and Andrew Feltham for hands-on assistance with the simulations, and Paul Simack, Beverly Frattini, Randie Prete, and others for their interest and encouragement. We also thank Deborah Ferry and Linda Mouning from our office for coordinating equipment deliveries and arranging certification contractor visits. Finally, we extend thanks to our anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticisms and insightful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Environmental Health & Safety, Yale University, 135 College St., New Haven, CT 06510

    Robert C. Klein MS, CIH & Benjamin Fontes MS, CBSP

Authors
  1. Robert C. Klein MS, CIH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Benjamin Fontes MS, CBSP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert C. Klein MS, CIH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Klein, R., Fontes, B. Containment Capabilities of Animal Transfer Stations. Lab Anim 32, 28–31 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0803-28

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0803-28

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing