How do I get into the facility?

NYU Medical Center ID cards must be coded in order to enter the facility. There is only one entrance to the Skirball facility on the ground floor of Skirball Institute. In order to maintain a barrier facility, please reduce visits to the facility by organizing your time. If your card access is not operating correctly, contact the Security Office.

• Leave personal items and extra clothing in your lab.
• Autoclave instruments prior to bringing into facility.
• Disinfect all objects brought into the facility. Disinfectants are located on the supply cart at the entrance to the facility.
• Gowning (booties, cap, mask, gown, and gloves) is mandatory while inside the facility.
• Carts are available for use. Remember to disinfect them prior use.

How do I get into my room, the supply room, the work room, and necropsy?

Once you have completed the orientation to the facility, you will have access to the room where your animals are located and the necropsy room. Rooms are controlled electronically and require a four digit number to enter. Problems with room access within the facility should be referred to the Skirball office.

Where can I perform procedures in the facility?

Most procedures can be performed within the room. Longer procedures can be performed in the work rooms located at the rear of the facility. Adopt Good Laboratory Practice by disinfecting the entire work area before and after performing procedures. The goal in working in a room is to minimize exposure of animals to the environment. Things to keep in mind while working in an animal room:

• Disinfect the work area (workstation/hood).
• Spray gloved hands and wipe vigorously before and after handling animals. Also spray gloved hands between cages.
• Limit open cages in the workstation to one.
• Reduce the number of workers in a room.
• Never place cages or equipment on the floor.
• Torn or heavily soiled gloves should be replaced immediately.

How do I locate missing animals?

• Death - check cage cards for notations of death dates. If within 48 hours of death, carcasses are held in the refrigerator on the day of the week the animal was found. The refrigerator is located in the freezer room outside of the facility entrance.
• Misplaced - check adjacent cages for increase in population.
• Escape - mice found outside of their cages will be euthanatized.

How do I get clean cages?

Clean cages are located under green draped carts located in the grey corridor. Skirball cages may never leave the facility. If you want to take animals out of the facility, please use the large white transport boxes that are located under green draped carts, also found in the grey corridor. Also note that animals leaving the facility may never be returned to the Skirball Facility.

What do I do with dirty cages?

Dirty cages should be left in the mouse room on the floor for the husbandry staff to remove. Lab members should ensure that no mice remain in the cages.

What do I do with carcasses?

Animal carcasses should be placed in a plastic bag and deposited in the freezer located outside of the entrance in the Freezer Room for proper disposal.