CASE STUDIES 2: BREEDING STUDY
CUSTOMER'S FEEDBACK:
" The entire animal colony was transitioned from conventional to Innovive cages within three weeks and without any downtime.
The amount of time spent by our support staff in the cage washer room was redirected toward animal health.
Also, it was estimated that after implementation of the disposable cages, the water usage in the vivarium was reduced by approximately 65%.
Furthermore, after a number of years of limited success with breeding of our most difficult knockout mice we are able to plan and expand our animal colony as needed and when needed.
We are confident that these disposable cages were one of the biggest contributors to this success."
" The entire animal colony was transitioned from conventional to Innovive cages within three weeks and without any downtime.
The amount of time spent by our support staff in the cage washer room was redirected toward animal health.
Also, it was estimated that after implementation of the disposable cages, the water usage in the vivarium was reduced by approximately 65%.
Furthermore, after a number of years of limited success with breeding of our most difficult knockout mice we are able to plan and expand our animal colony as needed and when needed.
We are confident that these disposable cages were one of the biggest contributors to this success."
IMPROVED BREEDING
In September 2007, Scientific Commercial Lab customer who was facing significant lab renovation.
Before undertaking any major investment decisions, the company decided to evaluate Innovive System and its usefulness for the company's animal breeding program.
As a result of a 7 month long evaluation and extensive economic analysis,the customer converted the entire facility to Innovive System in 2008.
- 4-5 thousand mice,8 transgenic and knockout lines.
- Main mouse lines, FAH/Rag2Gamma, NOD/Scid, Shiverer, Rag2Gamma and Shiverer/Rag2Gamma; conventional breeding methods
- Enrichment devices, Shepherds Shack and Nestles.
- 100% traditional IVCracks; husbandry practices, autoclaved cages, bedding and irradiated food, all changed weekly.
- 15000 ft2; 8 standard animal rooms, 5 procedure rooms, 2 storage areas.
- Cage wash rooms, both clean and dirty side located in the area of main animal facility traffic;
Equipment: tunnel washer, 2 autoclaves, rack washer and Fulton boiler. - Automatic watering system.
- RESEARCH PROBLEMS: Challenges with the frequency and number of offspring, a need for rederivation.
- FACILITY PROBLEMS: Small and inadequate tunnel washer, old autoclaves.
- TIME INVOLVEMENT: 40 days for demolition and removal of the existing equipment; appr. 90 days for installation of new equipment;
- ECONOMICALS: Staggering dollar amount; an additional cost to replace the Fulton boiler
- The customer decided to evaluate Innovive System for its usefulness for company's breeding program.
The evaluation was initiated in September 2007 and concluded in March of 2008.
Mouse line selected for the evaluation, NOD/Scid, Rag2Gamma, Shiwerer and FAH/Rag2Gamma
THE RESULT:
BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE BREEDING STUDY AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, THE CUSTOMER DECIDED TO CONVERT THE FACILITY TO INNOVIVE IVC SYSTEM
THE RESULT c'd : additional effects (per customer's feedback):- Time spent in the cage washroom was redirected to animal health
- Innovive animal cages are somewhat larger than the conventional ones, they provide excellent visibility throughout the cage.
- Due to the use of Aquavive® water bottle, the cages are no longer flooded with water from the automated watering system. This step also led to significant reduction in water consumption - the automated watering system led to loss of approximately two gallons of water per every gallon use.
- Significant reduction of steam and water in support of the sanitation/sterilization equipment
- Significant reduction of the use of diesel and gas
- Using the Innovive recyclabel/disposable cages significantly reduces environmental footprint
- Temperature in the disposable cages are much closer to room temperature than within the conventional cage.
Innovive Comment:
There is no single explanation as to why the Innovive system produces better breeding results, but users cite many possibilities:
There is no single explanation as to why the Innovive system produces better breeding results, but users cite many possibilities:
- Healthier animal environment: 5X less ammonia than conventional IVC systems (JAALAS – March 2008, pp58-xx)
- Non-invasive airflow system leaves animals free from drafts;
- Virtually vibration-free system
- Low noise levels, particularly when cages are moved in/out of the rack
- Consistency of all cage properties from one cage-change to the next