A COMPENDIUM OF DRUGS USED FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL ...

c. The lower end of the towel is grasped with the dried hand, and sameprocedure is repeated to dry the other hand and forearm.11. Using aseptic technique, don surgical gloves.DRAPING OF THE ANIMALA variety of different surgical drapes are available. All must be sterile when used. Forsmall rodents, commercially available plastic drapes with a small center hole provide asatisfactory alternative to traditional surgical drapes (e.g. consider using 3M Brand Steri-Drape 1024 which has a 2.25 x 1.13 inch oval aperture).STERILIZATION OF INSTRUMENTSAll instruments used in survival surgery on any species must be sterile at the time of theiruse. Common ways of assuring sterilization in clued autoclaving, ethylene oxide gassterilization, and soaking in a sterilant solution for the appropriate length of time. It isrecognized that for multiple surgical procedures on small rodents it is often difficult tohave sufficient sterile instruments between animals and “flash” sterilize them in acommercial glass bead sterilizer. Another option is to have more than one set ofinstruments available and soak one or more sets in a commercial sterilant solution whilethe others are being used. A indicator of sterility must be placed within the surgical packand these strips should be maintained with the surgical records.