ALLERGY TO LABORATORY MICE AND RATS - A REVIEW OF ITS PREVENTION, MANAGEMENT, AND TREATMENT

Allergy to laboratory animals is reviewed from a management point of view. Personnel issues, medical therapy, legal aspects, animal house environments and work routines are discussed. Modern methods of medical treatment are presented but it is recommended that environmental control should be given priority over drugs. Several ventilation and building design systems are reviewed from an ALA viewpoint. New technology (including down-ventilated benches, ventilated cages) is reviewed and possible effectiveness analysed. These systems, though potentially of value, lack adequate testing under clinical conditions. We conclude that there are many clinically untested techniques that remain to be proven and those efficacy has not been documented.