A computerized data-capture system for animal biosafety level 4 laboratories

Dennis A. Bente, Jeremy Friesen, Kyle White, Jordan Koll, Gary P. Kobinger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The restrictive nature of an Animal Biosafety Level 4 (ABSL4) laboratory complicates even simple clinical evaluation including data capture. Typically, clinical data are recorded on paper during procedures, faxed out of the ABSL4, and subsequently manually entered into a computer. This system has many disadvantages including transcriptional errors. Here, we describe the development of a highly customizable, tablet-PC-based computerized data-capture system, allowing reliable collection of observational and clinical data from experimental animals in a restrictive biocontainment setting. A multidisciplinary team with skills in containment laboratory animal science, database design, and software engineering collaborated on the development of this system. The goals were to design an easy-to-use and flexible user interface on a touch-screen tablet PC with user-supportable processes for recovery, full auditing capabilities, and cost effectiveness. The system simplifies data capture, reduces the necessary time in an ABSL4 environment, offers timely reporting and review of data, facilitates statistical analysis, reduces potential of erroneous data entry, improves quality assurance of animal care, and advances the use and refinement of humane endpoints.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)660-664
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Volume50
Issue number5
StatePublished - Sep 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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