Which statement best describes standard operating procedures in a mouse facility?

• A. They are optional guidelines.
• B. They only cover financial records.
• C. They standardize welfare-critical processes and ensure regulatory compliance.
• D. They determine the genetic background.

Answer: (C)

Standard operating procedures in a mouse facility are formal written instructions that define exactly how routine and welfare-critical tasks are performed so every team member does them the same way. In practice, this means SOPs cover how mice are housed, fed, and watered; how they are handled and restrained; how health monitoring, disease prevention, analgesia, anesthesia, and euthanasia are performed; how breeding, colony management, and procedures for transfers or experimental interventions are conducted; how sanitation, disinfection, equipment maintenance, and waste disposal are managed; and how records are kept for traceability and regulatory review. The goal is to ensure animal welfare and compliance with laws and guidelines, such as IACUC oversight and GLP standards, and to support reproducibility of results. They are mandatory and routinely reviewed and updated, with training tied to their content. They are not primarily about financial records, do not determine the genetic background, which is about strains and genetics rather than procedural instructions.