CAGE PROCESSING in Animal Facilities - Felasa

7.2.1.3.3 Test setup for IVC racks2 on the runners (C, D)3 local to the extract air nozzles (A, B, F)1 at the front side of the rack frame, outside (E)Adequate fixings for the pieces are cable ties and suitable spacers. The contaminated side of the test stripsand the item surface to be washed must both face the same direction.Please note:The use of test strips to assess the washing and decontamination performance in the air plenums of IVC racksseems not significant for two reasons:• The soiling of the plenums depends on a number of complex influencing factors (feed, bedding, air changerate, operation with high and low pressure, etc.), that cannot be standardised for the described test methodswith reasonable efforts.• The geometry of IVC racks can differ a lot, depending on the respective manufacturer, which makes itmore difficult to find consistent test methods.Therefore, the washing performance inside the IVC air plenums should undergo a visual assessement only,without using a test strip.AEFBGCDHFig. 7-5 Position of test strips on storage and transport rack7.2.1.3.4 Test setup for storage and transport racks6 over the 3 loading levels (ca 2 test strips per level on loading shelf and back wall, with inclined surfaces preferablyin the sheet metal bends / corners (A, B, D, E, G, H)2 at the rack frame, inside and outside (C, F)7.2.1.4 IVC filter topsDue to their various designs, IVC tops are exceptions and must be considered individually. Therefore, they arenot discussed here. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended to test them as well. The number and setup ofthe test strips, however, is to be determined on a case-by-case-basis.50Cage Processing in Animal Facilities · 4th issue · 2013