Chapter 15 - Animal Isolation Cubicles

Abstract

This chapter focuses on using animal cubicles to prevent airborne cross-contamination in animal facilities. Animal isolation cubicles are an animal facility design concept used to greatly increase flexibility for animal isolation within minimal space by subdividing animal rooms into small animal housing spaces, typically large enough to hold one standard-size animal cage rack. Animal isolation cubicles have proven to provide effective isolation, controlling cross-contamination between cubicles in the same room. They continue to be useful when separation or isolation of small groups of small or large laboratory animals is required. Cubicles are a viable renovation option when an animal facility has sufficient animal housing space, but insufficient spaces to meet the need for separating and/or isolating animals for myriad reasons. They are especially useful to quarantine animals of known or unknown health status, and for containment facilities. The concept is simple, yet the design details are relatively complex. The many architectural and engineering features to choose from require careful consideration to satisfy the requirements of each facility. As is often the case, there is not one best way to design animal isolation cubicles.