Cleaning and Disinfecting Equipment - San Diego Instruments (2024)

DISINFECTING EQUIPMENT

For disinfecting your equipment, we suggest using Airx RX44 which is a disinfectant cleaner and odor counteractant safe for our systems.

If your equipment is heavily soiled, clean the system first with warm soapy water before disinfecting equipment.

Please read below to see where isopropyl alcohol and bleach are acceptable or not acceptable for your equipment.

ACRYLIC PIECES

Examples: SR-Lab animal enclosures, Place Preference enclosures, Clear Open Field arena, crescent shaped ends of shock floors.

DO NOT USE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL IN CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE 20%

Alcohol will create cracks in the acrylic making them break and not be useable.

• Between each run, the equipment should be wiped down with a cloth to remove any feces or urine.
• You can create a 20% alcohol water solution to spray on a cloth to wipe out the test chambers or arena. This solution will be diluted enough to not crack the acrylic parts.

At the end of the day, it is best to clean the chambers with warm soapy water and rinse clean. Be mindful of connections to not submerge them into water.

STAINLESS STEEL RODS

Examples: SR-Lab shocker floors, Gemini Grid Floors, etc.

DO NOT USE BLEACH ON STAINLESS STEEL RODS

With many uses urine seeps into the connection of the screw and rods creating inconsistent shock levels being administered.

Consistent cleaning is needed to keep crystalized urine from interfering with the shock floors.

• Wipe down the rods with a dry rag after every animal.
• Next, create a 20% alcohol to water solution, spray on a cloth and wipe down the rods at the end of daily testing.

Do this so urine does not get into the screws or boards (Gemini or Freeze Monitor)

If your system needs to be deep cleaned, we suggest the following:

• Remove all screws and rods from the shock floor
• Soak in a tub with water and alcohol solution for 10 minutes
• Take a small brush (toothbrush works well) and scrub all the screws and ends of each rod. You will also want to scrub lightly the circuit boards.
• Rinse the rods, screws, and circuit boards with clean water.
• Dry completely and re assemble the floors.

ABS PLASTIC

Examples: SR-Lab test chamber, Rotor Rod, Mazes (not Acrylic)

Wipe out mazes, test chambers and rods between each test.

• Isopropyl Alcohol can be used on ABS Plastic and not cause cracking.

At the end of the day, it is best to clean the chambers and mazes with warm soapy water and a soft bristled brush or sponge.

Please call us at 858-530-2600 in the event you have questions about your equipment. Or send us an email at [email protected]