Performing a necropsy

Necropsies are high-risk procedures because of potential contact with infectious body fluids, aerosols, and contaminated sharps. Nonessential persons should not be present.

• Personnel involved in or present at necropsies should wear:
  • Protective outerwear (e.g., designated lab coat, designated scrubs)
  • Disposable gloves
  • Protective eye glasses/goggles or a full-face shield
  • Cut-proof gloves (machine washable) when opening the body cavities of larger animals, for heavy cutting, and when working on cases of high occupational risk (e.g., rabies suspect)
  • Additional precautions for respiratory protection (including environmental controls and face masks) should be employed if power equipment is used
• In-hospital necropsies should not be conducted on any animal suspected of being infected with a pathogen requiring biosafety precautions above level 2 (e.g. Chlamydophila psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, rabies virus). Instead, the entire body (or head for rabies testing as required by the testing facility) should be submitted to an approved diagnostic laboratory.
• Ensure all requirements for shipment of biological samples are met (available from the laboratory in question).