DO NOT DISTURB SOP

Oct 6, 2026

DO NOT DISTURB SOP establishes how research and OLAR staff manage cages labeled with a Do Not Disturb (DND) flag. It defines performance expectations for healthy, well-nourished, stress-free research animals and assigns daily monitoring responsibilities to OLAR and research teams. The SOP specifies restricted cage handling rules, emergency exceptions (wet cages, medical emergencies, distress, empty food/water), notification and documentation steps, response timelines, tumor-study check frequency, overcrowding enforcement, and sanitation/rack change coordination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Performance Standard

Research Lab Responsibilities

Cage Marking Supplies

Cages Marked With the Do Not Disturb (DND) Card

Allowed Exceptions

Monitoring and Documentation Requirements

Response Timelines and Notifications

Tumor Study Checks and Overcrowding Policy

Cage Change Interval Guide

Sanitation and Rack Change Out Coordination

DO NOT DISTURB SOP PERFORMANCE STANDARD: Animals are healthy, well nourished, stress free and serve as good research models. Research Lab is required to monitor all cages with a Do Not Disturb (DND) flag daily. OLAR staff will do their best to health check, but if any cages are found outside of standard care guidelines, the lab will be responsible. CAGE MARKING SUPPLIES: • Using ‘Do Not Disturb’(DND) cards requires specific training from OLAR management staff-research staff cannot train other lab members. • DND cards are picked up in the front office after completion of training and signing the Do Not Disturb Card Agreement. • Research staff are required to list contact information (including offhours phone numbers) on cages flagged as DND so that the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources (OLAR) staff can contact them with any immediate concerns. CAGES MARKED WITH THE DO NOT DISTURB (DND) CARD: • Cages of animals flagged “DND” will not be opened, pulled out from their slot, moved, or otherwise disturbed by OLAR staff for any reason except the following: o The cage is wet. 􀂃 In the event of a wet cage (regardless of severity), OLAR staff will change the cage and bathe animals (according to the Flooded Cage SOP) . 􀂃 OLAR staff will flag all bathed animals with a ‘Bathed Animal Notice’ and will document the condition on the wet cage log located on the housing room door. 􀂃 OLAR staff will inform the contact on the Do Not Disturb flag, via email, that the cage was found wet, and the cage was changed by OLAR staff. • If special water or food were affected, OLAR staff will contact the emergency contact for instructions o Other medical emergencies at veterinary discretion. o Rack change out is due (see specific details on page 2 of this document) . o The animals are found in immediate distress due to lack of food and/or water. • If a cage is found with no food or water and the animals are not in immediate distress, OLAR staff will contact the research staff immediately. o Research staff have two hours (or by 5 PM if notified after 3pm) Monday through Friday to respond or OLAR staff will open the cage to provide standard diet (2920X) or water. 􀂃 Animal must have access to food and water overnight unless protocol exemption is approved, and cages are flagged properly. 􀂃 During weekends/holidays, time to respond may be decreased from 2 hours • If any animals in the cage are found deceased, OLAR staff will send a Dead Animal Notice (DAN) to the research staff listed on the cage card. o When the DAN is sent, it will be noted in the email that the cage was marked DND. o Research staff will have until the end of the business day to remove the carcass(es) . If the dead animals are not removed, OLAR staff will remove the carcass(es) from the cage and place in the DAN refrigerator as normal. o If all animals in the cage are found dead, OLAR staff will remove the carcass(es) when found, unless in CVP chamber with other cages. • The Rodent Overcrowding Policy will be followed for all breeding scheme scenarios. Notification of non-compliance will be posted at cage level. If the situation is not corrected by 8 AM of the second business day, OLAR staff will correct the condition and charge the $75 per cage fee, as stated in the Rodent Overcrowding Policy, without additional lab notification. • Animals in cages with the DND card MUST be monitored daily by research staff for overall health, tumor growth (if applicable), feed/water levels, dead animals, and cleanliness of cage. • Research staff are responsible for changing flagged DND cage(s), per the appropriate cage change interval based upon species and type of caging (see chart below) . o When cages are changed, research staff are responsible for documenting the cage change date and their initials on the DND card in the space provided. o For static caging only (excludes CVP & ABSL2+) : Research staff are responsible for saving a scoop of dirt

FAQs

What does the DND SOP require for animal welfare and performance standards?

Animals must be healthy, well nourished, stress free, and serve as good research models. The SOP also requires daily oversight and appropriate escalation when conditions deviate from standard care.

Under what conditions may OLAR staff open or disturb a DND-marked cage?

DND cages must not be opened or moved except for listed emergencies such as wet cages, other medical emergencies at veterinary discretion, rack change due dates, or immediate distress from lack of food/water.

What are the response timelines for research staff when a DND cage has no food or water?

Research staff have two hours (or by 5 PM if notified after 3 PM) Monday through Friday to respond; otherwise OLAR staff will provide the standard diet or water.

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by eBook King