From a delivered instrument to routine scanning
A body composition system in an animal facility is only as good as the way it is set up and used. The steps run from the installation in the facility, through calibration with reference materials, written procedures, training of the operators, and a daily check before routine scanning. A clear workflow lets many people produce comparable results over months and years.
What each step involves
- Installation: a suitable room, a stable temperature, a clear path for the animal cages, and the right separation from the animal housing
- Calibration: with reference materials that cover the size of the animals you scan, repeated at agreed intervals
- Written procedures: how to handle and position the animals, how to record the scan, and what to do when something is unusual
- Hygiene: cleaning the holders between animals and cleaning the room, in line with the facility rules
- Training: for the operators and the facility staff, with a record of who has been trained
Keeping the results comparable
A reference sample is measured every day before the first animal. Its values are plotted on a chart with an upper and a lower limit. A value outside the limits is a signal to stop and investigate before any animal is scanned, so that a drift of the instrument does not end up in a study.
Points that matter in practice
- Plan the calibration and the daily check before the first study, not after
- Name the persons responsible for the daily check and the calibration, and for the maintenance of the written procedures
- When animals of a different size or species are introduced, the calibration needs to be checked
- Keep a record of the checks, so that any result can be traced back
From delivery to a trained team
MSY Consulting supports the planning of the installation, the calibration, the writing of the procedures, the hygiene routine and the training, and returns to check the routine when the team grows or changes.
Let's talk about your application
Send an email describing your instrument and your application, and you will get a reply.
contact@msyconsulting.euMSY CONSULTING SAS · Wissembourg, France · LinkedIn