University Animal Care Users' Handbook |
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1.2.1. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
By mandate of the Animal Welfare Act and PHS Policy, each institution using animals must have a committee to oversee animal care and use. Information regarding the University’s IACUC can be found at the following website: http://www.iacuc.arizona.edu or by contacting the IACUC office (621-9305) to obtain a copy of the University of Arizona IACUC Handbook, which outlines the University of Arizona’s IACUC functions, responsibilities, and Policies.
1.2.1.1. Reporting Deficiencies in Animal Care and Treatment
Complaints or concerns regarding the care and use of research animals or charges of animal abuse should be directed to the Attending Veterinarian (Director of UAC, 626-6702), the Chair of the IACUC, or any IACUC member either verbally or in writing. To obtain the phone number of the current IACUC chairperson, please call the IACUC Coordinator at 621-9305. The IACUC has a formal procedure for investigating complaints. This procedure is found in the IACUC Handbook.
Employees who bring legitimate concerns to the attention of the University regarding animal care and use are protected under the Animal Welfare Act and by State Whistle Blower’s Laws from retribution by their employer or the University.
1.2.2.1. Entrance into Animal Facilities
Entrances to animal facilities are secured at all times. The main entrance to the AHSC facility is room 1182. There are two additional entrances into the animal facility-- through the College of Pharmacy and through Life Sciences North. Individuals using the AHSC facilities will need keys to the first door of the double entrance doors, a security card access to the second door of the double entrance doors, and keys to individual animal rooms. The main entrance to the Central Animal Facility building is located on the southeast corner of the building. Individuals with animals housed in the CAF will need a security card access to the first door of the double entrance doors at CAF, a key to the second door of the double entrance doors at CAF, keys to the second door of the double entrance doors at CAF, a key to the elevator, and keys to individual animal rooms. For the Veterinary Science/Microbiology (VSM) building research staff will need security card access to the entrance to VSM, a key to the elevator, and keys to individual animal rooms. Access to the Primate Research Facility must be cleared through the Assistant Director of UAC (626-2055).
Access to the animal facilities is restricted to those individuals who are listed as participants in IACUC approved protocols.
KEY ISSUE PROCEDURE: Keys and access cards to animal facilities can only be obtained through UAC. If keys and/or security access cards for the entrance and individual animal room keys are needed, a request for access form, which may be found on the UAC web site (http://www.uac.arizona.edu), must be used. The form must be copied onto the departmental letter head of the requesting individual. UAC must have the copy with the original signatures.
To receive keys, the investigator or technician comes to room 1128 AHSC or 114 CAF with the form requesting keys and security access cards. UAC issues a key card to the person, signs the key desk authorization slip(s), and attaches a memo from UAC to the Facilities Maintenance key desk requesting key(s)/card for the individual. Keys and card access cannot be obtained in any other manner. University Animal Care handles security card authorization activation.
When a technician, a student and/or investigator is no longer employed by the department, please notify Animal Care. Return all keys to the key desk where they were originally picked up. For the security of the facilities and animals, it is imperative to return keys and cards of individuals who leave or terminate employment.
If keys or cards are lost, missing, or stolen, please immediately notify UAC so that measures can be taken to protect the facilities and animals.
Please contact Assistant Director of Facilities (626-2055) for key access and any questions.
In an effort to protect research animals and minimize any possibility of disease transmission, visitors who are HIV+, have AIDS or other immunocompromised persons, family members and especially children, are discouraged from entering the animal facilities. All visitors must have prior approval of UAC. For admission of visitors into the AHSC facility, please contact the office at 626-6702. For admission to main campus facilities, contact the Central Animal Facility Office at 621-1330. Visitors will be asked to sign a guest book and required to wear a visitor's badge before entering a facility. Authorized personnel must accompany visitors/guests at all times while they are in the animal facilities.
1.2.2.3. Photographs or Videotapes of Research Animals
Photographic equipment and associated personnel can be detrimental to the animals' health and well-being. Bright lights can affect the animals' photo-period and cause retinal damage in some species. Noise from personnel and equipment can disturb the animals and cause stress-related reactions. For all of these reasons, the use of still and video cameras is not allowed in the animal rooms except in certain circumstances. These exceptions are:
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOTAPES TAKEN IN THE ANIMAL HOLDING FACILITY MUST BE APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR AND THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.
1.2.2.4. Threats Related to Animal Use
Threats, whether written or verbal, should be immediately reported to UMC Security (694-6533), or U of A Campus Police, main office (621-8273). You can also dial 911. If the threat indicates a bomb or is a direct threat to your life or the life of others, call 911 immediately. In cases of bomb threats, all individuals should leave the building. Be sure to secure doors to offices, laboratories, and animal facilities.
If you are approached by anyone who appears to be confrontational concerning animal use, you should not try to have a conversation with them. Be polite, but do not argue your case for animal research. Walk away from the individual, go to the nearest building, office, laboratory or emergency phone box and call the police, security, or 911. If the individual attempts to follow you or is belligerent, get to the nearest phone, dial 911 and leave the receiver off the hook. This indicates to the police that it is a serious emergency and the response will be faster. The police can locate you from the telephone call alone.
If you are moving animals through the building or outside and someone confronts you, follow the same procedure. If the individual demands the animals, the safest response you can have is to turn over the animals. Then call 911. Always remember to look carefully at the individual so that you can give a description to the police. If the individual has a vehicle, try to remember the make, model, color, and license plate number.
Security/police personnel will provide information to you if you have been threatened so that you will know what further steps to take. Security/police will take action as needed. Once police have arrived, the Director of UAC should also be informed.
In the event of a demonstration related to animal use at the University, employees should avoid the area where the demonstration is being conducted, avoid confrontation with the demonstrators, and follow the directions of Security or other personnel in charge of the area. The Office of News and Public Information will coordinate communications with the media.
Anyone discovering a break-in of animal housing or use areas will immediately inform the security or police unit in charge, and inform the Director. The area should not be cleaned or otherwise disturbed without the permission of the Security personnel in charge of investigation of the incident.
In the event of a fire or fire alarm, The University of Arizona requires all occupants of University buildings to EVACUATE the building via the closest exit or stairs. The animal facilities are located on the ground floor, so proceed directly out of the building. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS.
If you have first hand knowledge of the fire or the area it is located in, report these details to the U of A Police Dept. (621-8273) after you have evacuated.
If you are involved in a laboratory procedure, shut down the experiment and exit as soon as possible via the nearest exit. As you leave close all doors, including those propped open.
Remain outside the building until the “all clear” is announced over the fire alarm system by the UAPD personnel, the floor monitor, or other designated personnel.
It is important that you never enter a building if you hear the fire alarm siren or see the fire alarm strobes flashing. A fire or other emergency could be in progress and you may be putting yourself in danger. It is also very important not to re-enter a building you have evacuated until the “all clear” is announced.
If you see suspicious individuals near your office, laboratory, or facility, or see suspicious vehicles outside of research buildings or animal facilities, you should call security or the police and notify them of your observations. Office, laboratories, and animal room doors should be immediately secured.
1.2.3. Pets in Animal Facilities, Laboratories, or Offices
Federal Laws and policies require that all areas where animals are housed must meet specific standards, and that these areas be inspected and approved for animal housing by the IACUC. Therefore, it is not permissible for animals to be housed in offices or laboratories, unless so reviewed and approved by the IACUC.
Pet animals may be brought into the facility when the purpose is for inclusion into research protocols. These animals must be cleared through the UAC office, and released to the University during the period of study.
1.2.4.1. Removal from Animal Facilities to Buildings Connected to Animal Facilities
Except during quarantine periods, animals may be moved to laboratory buildings directly connected to the animal facilities. Small animal cages (rabbits and smaller) must be completely covered with a clean cloth sheet or large towel, or the like (investigator must provide covering). Additionally, rodents which will be returning to the facility must be transported in microisolator cages to prevent unnecessary exposure to pathogens. Larger animals are to be moved in transport cages, with cage entrance covered.
In the AHSC, animals are not to be moved on public-use elevators. The northeast elevator in the College of Medicine building has been designated for animal use. This elevator is accessed from the east side and the elevator will not stop on floors two and three. The southeast elevator in Life Sciences North has been designated for animal transport. Sarver Heart Center researchers can use the College of Medicine elevator.
1.2.4.2. Removal from Animal Facilities to Buildings not Connected to Animal Facilities
For movement of animals between the CAF and COM animal facilities, delivery must be arranged through UAC 48 business hours in advance. Arrangements for deliveries can be made by calling 626-4511. Unless specific IACUC approval has been granted, animals cannot remain outside the animal facilities for longer than 23 hours.
For movement of small animals from the CAF or COM to the researcher’s lab (one way trip), the animals can be carried, covered, between the facilities, or delivery can be arranged as listed above. During inclement weather, the animals can be transported by personal vehicle. The animals must be placed in the cab of the vehicle so that they are not exposed to extremes of heat or cold. Do not place in the trunk of the vehicle or in the bed of a truck.
The transportation of animals between the U of A campus and off campus locations must be arranged in advance with UAC by calling 626-4511. This includes the pick up and delivery of animals to/from the airport.
Individuals working in the Biomedical Research Laboratory buildings should move animals by vehicle. If animals must be transported by hand or on carts, animals should be moved as unobtrusively as possible, at times of low activity, such as before 8:00 A.M. and after 5:00 P.M.
1.2.4.3. Removal of Animals from the Institution
Federal law has strict accounting standards which require records of final disposition of animals used by an institution. Animals may not be removed from the University without clearance through UAC. Persons adopting animals must sign a release form in order to obtain an animal.
1.2.5. Housing of Animals in Research Laboratories
Unless specific IACUC approval has been granted, animals cannot be removed from the animal facilities for 24 hours or longer. When IACUC approval has been granted, all WARM BLOODED animals must be cared for by UAC to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Cold-blooded animals may be cared for by the research team, but must be housed in compliance with regulatory standards. Please contact UAC (626-6706 at AHSC, or 621-1621 at CAF) to obtain information on applicable standards. UAC reserves the right to assume management of any animal housing area that is found to be noncompliant.
1.2.6. Experimental Procedures in Animal Housing Areas
Painful or stressful procedures may not be conducted in most animal rooms, as such procedures stress other animals in the room. To assist researchers, procedure rooms are available in each facility and animals may be taken to these rooms or to research laboratories. Please contact facility supervisors to obtain information on available procedure rooms (AHSC 626-6706, CAF/VSM 621-1621). All procedure and necropsy rooms must be reserved in advance. Blackboards for this purpose are located in the vicinity of each room.
Procedures can be conducted in rooms where laminar flow work benches are provided (microisolation rooms). Procedures may be conducted in the laminar flow hood, as long as the hood is turned on and functioning properly. Separate anterooms to animal housing rooms may also be used for animal procedures.
Animals cannot be taken from clean barrier rooms and returned without going through a three-week quarantine, unless barrier procedure rooms are used and animals are transported in MI caging.
All survival surgery performed in animals must be done under aseptic conditions.
1.2.7.1. Survival Rodent Surgery
Survival surgery on rodents may be carried out in investigator laboratories if aseptic techniques are followed. Caps, masks, and sterile gloves must be worn and sterile instruments, supplies and drapes must be used. In addition, in accordance with NIH guidelines, there must be an animal prep area separate from the surgery area. This is to keep hair and dirt from clipping and prepping the animal away from the area in which a sterile procedure is to be performed. Generally, the surgery area should be in a separate room, or hood dedicated to surgery. If these are not available, an individual area of a room may be dedicated to surgery, and must not be used for other purposes.AAALAC requires that all instruments must be sterilized, either by heat, gas, or chemical means. Use of only disinfecting agents such as alcohol, povidone iodine, etc., is not acceptable. Sterilants kill all microorganisms, with the possible exception of some parasitic life forms, while disinfectants have a much lower level of effectiveness. Acceptable methods of sterilization include steam, gas, glass bead, and chemical agents. Chemical agents include phenols, glutaraldehyde, and chlorine dioxide. Glutaraldehyde is mutagenic, phenols are corrosive and both require special disposal procedures. Chlorine dioxide has a short sterilizing useful life (one day) and is corrosive to metals. All agents require rinsing with sterile solutions prior to tissue contact. Glass bead sterilizers will sterilize only the portion of the instrument placed in the beads. The following standards have been reviewed and approved by our IACUC:
1.2.7.2. Non-Rodent, Major Survival Surgery and Multiple Survival Surgeries
Major surgery is defined as surgery which invades a body cavity or results in physiological or anatomical alteration of the surgical subject. All major surgery in rabbits and species higher on the phylogenetic scale is to be performed in the dedicated survival surgery areas within UAC.
The Public Health Service Policy and the Animal Welfare Act prohibit the performance of more than one major surgery on an animal with the animal surviving. This is known as Major Multiple Survival Surgery. There is provision for these surgeries with adequate scientific justification by the Principal Investigator with approval by the IACUC.
1.2.7.3. Euthanasia, Anesthesia, Analgesia
Federal laws and policies require the use of methods to relieve pain and distress for animals experiencing these adverse reactions. Euthanasia procedures are outlined in the American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia, and must be adhered to unless specifically exempted in the IACUC review process. Anesthesia and analgesia procedures have been established for animals at the University. University veterinarians can assist researchers in selection of these agents.
The veterinarians, surgery laboratory staff, animal health technicians, and animal care personnel monitor the use of anesthetics and analgesics. Observation of anesthetic technique, depth of anesthesia, apparent level of pain, as well as physiological parameters, are the means by which anesthesia and analgesia are monitored. If animals are observed to be in pain at any time, the investigator will be contacted and the use of analgesics discussed. If the investigator determines that analgesics cannot be used, the Veterinarian will decide whether the animal can continue on study, or must be euthanatized.
1.2.8. Use of Biohazardous Materials/Radioisotopes
For hazardous chemicals, such as carcinogens, the user must file an animal protocol with the IACUC and complete a Hazardous Agents Form. The IACUC submits the form to Risk Management for approval, which must be obtained prior to the IACUC’s review and approval of the animal protocol. Once all approvals are obtained, the user contacts the animal facility supervisor for room assignment. In a similar manner, projects utilizing biohazards must be reviewed by the IACUC. Additionally, the user must file a Memorandum of Understanding (look under IBC forms) in the Institutional Biosafety Committee website. All approvals must be in place before work with biohazards can be initiated.
The UAC staff and appropriate personnel oversee rooms in UAC where animals containing hazards are housed and all procedures performed in these animals. Protocols and precautionary measures for each study must be provided by the Principal Investigator and posted within each animal room. Additionally, appropriate identification of hazards must be placed on the outside door of each affected room.
1.2.9. Use of Specialized Equipment or Animal Rooms
It is advisable for all studies where specialized equipment or rooms are necessary (such as access to radioisotope rooms, fume hoods, or bio-containment facilities) to contact UAC to discuss needs before submitting protocols to the IACUC or other committees. In this way, the user can ensure that the needed animal housing space and/or specialized equipment will be available. For assistance at the AHSC, contact the Director (626-6702) or Assistant Director (626- 2055); for the CAF, contact the Associate Director (626-1330) or Supervisor (621-1621.)
1.2.10. Occupational Health and Safety
The PHS requires that each institution provide reasonable protection for employees and visitors from risks associated with contact with animals or animal tissues or products. Under standards outlined in the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, The University of Arizona’s occupational health and safety program includes hazard identification, risk assessment, personnel training, personal hygiene, facilities and procedures monitoring, personal protection, and medical evaluation and preventive medicine. The animal component, called the Animal Hazards Program, is administered by the IACUC. Personnel included are those involved in the direct care of animals and their living quarters and those individuals who have direct contact with animals (live or dead), their viable tissues, body fluids or wastes. The assessment of risk is determined by frequency of contact, intensity of exposure, hazards associated with animals being handled, hazardous properties of agents used in research, the susceptibility of individual employees, the hazard-control measures available, and the occupational history of individual employees. Major emphasis is placed on laboratory supervisor responsibility and subordinate training. An Occupational Health Clinic staffed with an occupational heath physician and nurse provides medical care for university employees and students.
To participate in the Animal Hazards Program, call 621-1929.
1.2.11. Viral-free Mandate for Mice
In 1997 the IACUC in consultation with UAC and the research community, established a long-term plan to prevent viral contamination of University mouse colonies. As a result of the Viral-free Plan, all mice must be housed in microisolators or ventilated rack systems.
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This page designed and maintained by K. Coronado
Revised 07/25/2008
