Computerised animal house management system (CAMS)

Data processing systems for the management of animal houses are available a s individually tailored solutions to meet the specific requirements of diff erent institutions in various sectors. After four years of use, a "propriet ary system" (originally used by Boehringer/Mannheim). which was based on UN IFACE and ORACLE database software and consisted of a VAX station with eigh t terminals. was replaced by a PC-based multi-user system for administrativ e employees and animal technicians. The new system runs under the operating systems of Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Windows NT and uses Microsof t Access 97 as the database software. A "multipurpose program system" was c reated in order to fulfil the following main functions: documentation and c ontrol of experimental plans and animal usage: registering changes in the n umber of animals available: controlling room use and animal storage areas; maintenance cost calculations for determining the cost of experiments and a n evaluation of how animals are used and consumed. CAMS ((C) under bar omputerised (A) under bar nimal House (M) under bar ana gement (S) under bar ystem) has a centralised / decentralised structure and is a user-friendly, interactive system which can only be accessed by autho rised groups of users. You do not need to be highly skilled with computers to master the system. It can generate daily and monthly reports and any nec essary documentation. Furthermore, it complies with the revised Animal Prot ection Act (1998, annual report on number of animals used), facilitates a d etailed analysis of housing and the associated costs and provides options f or documenting different types of experimental data. For this reason, the system has become an increasingly important tool for t he management of our own animal facilities and animal experiments as well a s for external ones.