Preparing for an AAALAC or an IACUC Review

1. Preparing for an AAALAC or an IACUC Review

3. First Impressions Keep laboratory neat and organized This says a great deal about the lab Convey image that animal users are interested in a quality program Good Animal Care = Good Science

4. Acronyms to Know AAALAC-International - Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care-International IACUC - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee ACUP - Animal Care and Use Protocol USDA - United States Department of Agriculture AWA – Animal Welfare Act AALAS – American Association of Laboratory Animal Science OLAW – Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare

5. Role of IACUC Protocol review Program review Facilities review Address animal concerns Note: The IACUC is required to conduct the same level of review twice per year as the AAALAC site team conducts once every three years.

6. Animal Concerns What can you do?

7. ACUP Know the protocol Refer to the protocol often Make no deviations from the protocol There is no such thing as a pilot study that does not need IACUC approval Does everyone in the lab know where the ACUP is located?

8. Sick animal? What do you do? What do you do with a sick animal on weekends? Do you know the point at which the animal should be euthanized? Remember: ALL clinical care of Health Science Center and CLAS animals MUST be coordinated through the ACS veterinarians.

9. Anesthesia/Analgesics Use anesthetics only as described in ACUP Gas anesthetics vaporizers should be calibrated frequently Use a chemical fume hood or other means to scavenge gas anesthetic agents appropriately

10. Rodent Aseptic Surgery Must follow published “Guidelines” Appropriate sterilization of instruments Surgical preparation Animal Surgeon Monitor anesthesia An anesthetized animal cannot be left unattended Post-Operative Care consistent with “Guidelines” As described in ACUP Training is available by Animal Care Services

11. Clinical Records for warm-blooded species other than rodents Each animal must have an individual clinical record Clinical records must be available to the ACS veterinarians at all times Clinical records must be kept with the animal All procedures conducted on the animal must be entered into its clinical record

12. Drugs Only use those drugs listed in the ACUP Other drugs that may be needed for clinical care must be under the direction of the ACS veterinarians. Do you have a system for identifying and disposing of expired drugs?

13. Euthanasia ALL euthanasia procedures must be as written in ACUP What methods do you use to assure death? Physical methods of euthanasia require specialized training and justification Use of a guillotine for euthanasia requires that it be properly maintained

14. Occupational Health and Safety All animal users MUST participate in OH&S program Physical injury issues Do not recap needles Bite wounds – do you know what to do? Personal Protective Equipment – do know what is required?

15. Chemicals All chemical containers must be labeled If appropriate, an expiration date must be on the label Keep chemicals away from human or animal food items

16. Certifications Gas anesthetic vaporizers must be certified annually Biological Safety Cabinets must be certified annually Scales must be within calibration date

17. Training Training for Investigative staff Visit Animal Care Services web site General animal use training is provided at least monthly Rodent training is provided on a monthly basis Training for IACUC members Training for Animal Care staff

18. Animal Housing To remain consistent with “the guide,” NO overcrowding is permitted Review “Overcrowding” policy Delayed or incomplete weaning is most common cause of overcrowding conditions Identification ACS cage cards must be visible Use of temporary cage cards if necessary Review Policy on Unidentified animals No housing of animals outside the central animal facilities unless approved by the IACUC Warm blooded animals except laboratory reared rats, mice and birds cannot be outside the central animal facility for longer than 12 hours (USDA regulations). Rats, mice, and birds and other vertebrates not covered by the USDA regulations can be kept outside the central animal facilities for up to 24 hours. (PHS Policy)

19. What do you do if you must use cages or cage accessories not sanitized by ACS? You must have a method to ensure an adequate level of sanitation This can be accomplished by culturing the cage or cage accessory periodically (at least monthly)

20. ACS Policies Designed to help users and ACS to maintain a program consistent with the “Guide”. Designed to reduce costs when possible Designed to treat all investigators equitably Are Posted on ACS web site which follows - Please review often. If you need clarification or assistance, contact Animal Care Services at 392-2978.

21. Web sites http://acs.ufl.edu http://iacuc.ufl.edu http://www.aalas.org http://www.aaalac.org