Aseptic Technique

A comprehensive guide to help research workers apply best practice in aseptic surgical techniques in laboratory rodents.

These video tutorials were developed in consultation with colleagues across Europe and North America. We have balanced the ideal of adopting full aseptic procedures, equivalent to those in medical surgical facilities, with an approach that we consider to be easily achieved in any facility undertaking experimental surgical procedures in rodents.

Why adopt aseptic surgical procedures?

Aseptic technique is the method adopted to eliminate all potential sources of contamination of the surgical field. Adopting high standards of asepsis will reduce the risk of post-surgical wound infections developing. This is important for both animal welfare and scientific reasons.

Wound infections can cause pain, distress, and if severe can result in the breakdown of the surgical wound and generalised infections that cause severe illness or death of the animal. Even low-grade infections can result in changes to the animal’s physiology that may interact or interfere with specific research procedures.

How do we attain these standards?

Adopting good aseptic technique requires careful attention to the preparation of the operating room environment, the animal, the surgeon, and all materials that will come into contact with the surgical field. The video sequences in this tutorial deal with all of these aspects of preparing and undertaking aseptic surgery.

Aseptic Technique

Aseptic Technique: Introduction

Aseptic Technique: Instruments

Aseptic Technique: Other Materials

Aseptic Technique: Preparation of the Animal

Aseptic Technique: Preparation of the Surgeon

Aseptic Technique: Preparation for Surgery

Aseptic Technique: The Surgical Procedure

Aseptic Technique: Batch Surgery