Environmental Health and Safety
Career and Protective Services
HANDLING ANIMALS DOSED WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
DESCRIPTION:
In the course of research, laboratory animals may be dosed with toxic chemicals, including chemotherapeutic
agents and other hazardous drugs. This SOP addresses procedures for performing animal caretaking safely after
the animals have been dosed.
The animals may excrete toxic chemicals or toxic metabolites of these chemicals, particularly during the first 48
hours after dosing. The precautions outlined below are designed to protect employees in these situations. For
volatile toxic materials, or materials that are toxic at extremely low doses, additional precautions would be
necessary.
These procedures must be followed for the first week after dosing AND until the contaminated bedding is
changed. All bedding used for the first week after dosing will be considered contaminated. The procedures
may need to be modified for animals other than rodents.
NOTIFICATION and SIGNAGE:
Laboratory staff must make arrangements for housing these animals and for disposing of the contaminated
bedding by contacting the appropriate animal caretaker supervisor before dosing begins.
When animals are dosed with a toxic chemical, laboratory workers must label the cage of that animal with a
cage card that bears the name of the agent, approximate dose, and the date and time of the dose. In addition, the
attached sign must be completed and attached to the front of the door where the animals will be housed.
An MSDS for the toxic chemical shall be kept in the facility where the animal(s) are housed.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:
Employees must wear appropriate personal protective equipment for handling animals, cages, and bedding:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lab coat/gown
Latex/nitrile gloves
Shoe covers
Safety glasses (if animals handled outside of a biosafety cabinet or ventilated cage-changing station)
ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
 Animals will be housed only in micro-isolation cages.
 Cages will be changed by animal resources staff in a ventilated cage-changing station or a biological safety
cabinet
WORK PRACTICES:
 Employees will wash hands before donning and after removing gloves.
 Gloves will be changed at least every 2 hours and when they become torn or obviously contaminated
 Contaminated bedding shall be collected inside of a biosafety cabinet or ventilated cage-changing station.
Bedding must be collected into labeled hazardous waste buckets lined with zip lock bags. Please call EH&S
for immediate pickup of contaminated bedding (HSC: x22225, UPC: x07215)
 Decontamination of the ventilated cage-changing station or biological safety cabinet will consist of surface
cleaning with detergent/disinfectant solution. Cleaning will proceed from least to most contaminated areas.
Environmental Health and Safety
Career and Protective Services
HANDLING ANIMALS DOSED WITH TOXIC CHEMICALS: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions, please contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office at (323)442-2200 or send
an email to IBC@caps.usc.edu
University of Southern California
Laboratory Safety (323) 442-2200
ANIMAL HANDLER PRECAUTIONS
Building:
Room Number:
CARCINOGENIC/TOXIC CHEMICAL HAZARD
Certain animals in this room are part of an approved experiment involving carcinogens/toxic chemicals. The requirements
below apply to this experiment.
Principal Investigator:
Department:
Phone:
Emergency Contact Person:
Phone:
IACUC Protocol:
Identification of Hazard(s):
Required PPE
1. Lab coat/gown
2. Latex/nitrile gloves
3. Shoe covers
4. Safety glasses (if animals handled outside of a biosafety cabinet or ventilated cage-changing station)
Special Instructions
1. Prior to injection of agent, arrangements for housing and bedding disposal must be made with an animal
caretaker supervisor.
2. All animals must be housed in micro-isolation cages.
3. Individual cages must be labeled with carcinogen/toxic chemical card upon injection of agent. The label
must indicate the name of the agent and the date of injection.
4. All animal handling must occur inside a certified biological safety cabinet or ventilated cage-changing
station.
5. Contaminated bedding shall be collected inside a biosafety cabinet or ventilated cage-changing station.
Bedding must be collected into labeled hazardous waste buckets lined with zip lock bags. Please call
EH&S for immediate pickup of contaminated bedding (HSC: x22225, UPC: x07215)
6. Biosafety cabinet or ventilated cage changing station must be decontaminated with detergent and water
after use or cage change.
7. Remove gloves and wash hands with soap and water upon leaving room.