REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH
This is a list of basic requirements of University of Virginia Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) for performing
animal research. Findings of non-compliance with any of these items will be investigated by the ACUC with possible
sanctions for repeated or serious offenses, including federally-mandated required reporting to the appropriate
regulatory agencies. These guidelines are based on UVA ACUC policies, as well as other regulatory policy/guidelines
including:
UVA ACUC Policies - http://www.virginia.edu/vpr/iacuc/policies.html
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals- http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals-7th Ed - http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/labrats/
8th Ed - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/Guide-for-the-Care-and-Use-of-Laboratory-Animals.pdf
USDA Animal Welfare Act - http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/awa.htm
APPHIS/AC policies - http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/policy/Policy%20Manual%2003-25-2011.pdfl
NIH OACU guidelines- http://oacu.od.nih.gov/ARAC/index.htm
U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm#USGovPrinciples
2007 AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia - http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
PROTOCOL/PERSONNEL:
The animal use protocol for your research must be approved and accurately describe all the procedures
being done on animals.
A current copy of the approved protocol should be available in the laboratory for all personnel to
reference either as a hard copy or easily accessible online. All personnel should know where the
protocol is kept in the lab or how to access it online.
All personnel are aware of the procedures listed on the approved protocol and understand that those
are the only procedures that can be conducted without a protocol modification.
All personnel must be listed on an approved protocol as an animal handler before working with
animals. Unapproved personnel are not permitted to touch animals or enter the vivarium unaccompanied
by an approved animal handler or PI.
All new animal handlers must attend the Animal Research Orientation Seminar and complete the
appropriate LATA or in-house training modules.
All animal handling personnel should be thoroughly trained in each procedure they will be performing,
and be able to demonstrate proficiency upon request.
All animal handlers must enroll in the Occupational Health Medical Surveillance program and be
currently "OK FOR WORK”
Any and all rooms where LIVE animals are taken must be listed in the protocol.
PIs, when they will be absent for 3 or more months, must officially designate to the ACUC office the
individual responsible for the laboratory in their absence.
Any animal transfers between protocols or PIs must be officially submitted to CCM. No sharing of
live animals is permitted without an animal transfer form.
Pets/non-research animals are prohibited in labs designated as animal research areas. Personnel who
have exposure to rodents outside the workplace should be aware of the potential transfer of pathogens
to/from research animals and follow designated procedures to minimize this risk.
BREEDING/HOUSING:
Approved housing densities must be adhered to according to animal age/weight. Overcrowding is not
permitted.
Preferably only one litter per cage. This reduces chance of overcrowding. No more than two small (<5
pups) litters per cage, of similar age (within 5 days) are permitted. If two litters are in a cage, at 12 days
of age, there can not be more than 12 animals in the cage (separate a female and litter as needed).
No more than one litter at a time per female per cage (previous litter must be weaned prior to delivery
of next litter).
Mouse and rat litters must be weaned by day 23 after birth, or by day 21 if a new litter is imminent.
Exceptions to the weaning policy must be approved by the ACUC and listed in the protocol. One time
exceptions can be granted by vivarium supervisors (documented on list).
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Date of Birth (DOB), and projected Date of Weaning (DOW) should be listed on cage card for all litters.
No unauthorized breeding of animals. All breeding must be approved in the protocol.
SAFETY:
Gloves and protective clothing must be used at all times when handling animals
Any ABSL-2, ABSL-3, human-derived material, radioactive material or hazardous chemical work must
have prior approval by the ACUC and the respective safety committees.
All personnel working with hazardous materials should undergo appropriate training as required.
All animal cages with biohazards, hazardous chemicals, or radiation must be individually labeled and the
vivarium supervisor notified
Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) must be worn when working with biohazardous animals or
materials.
Biosafety cabinets, and fume hoods should be certified once yearly.
Appropriate warning signs should be posted for any hazardous materials that are used.
Anesthetic gases (e.g. isoflurane, halothane, metofane) must be properly scavenged or used in a fume
hood.
Precision anesthetic gas vaporizers (or gas analyzers) are required to be validated at least once every
three years or any time a vaporizer has not been in service for more than one year. Maintenance record
(sticker) should document re-calibration
Charcoal (F-Air) canisters must be weighed regularly and within specs. Soda-sorb should not have color
changes.
There should be NO food or drink in proximity to areas where animals are used.
Rodent boxes/cages should have filter tops on them at all times for protection of the animals, and to
minimize allergen exposures to personnel. Alternatively, they can be kept in a biosafety cabinet or fume
(chemical) hood.
All animal handlers should know to report any animal bites or work-related injuries to their immediate
supervisor and know that they can go to UVA WorkMed or Student Health for treatment.
Gas cylinders must be secured.
Appropriate guidelines for use and disposal of hazardous materials must be followed.
DRUGS:
Analgesics (or euthanasia) must be promptly provided to all animals demonstrating pain or suffering,
unless specifically exempted as a Pain Category E experiment.
Rodents should not come in physical contact with inhalational anesthetic solutions.
Drugs, suture, and surgical supplies should be used before their expiration date, unless used for terminal
experiments, where they should be clearly labeled “for acute use only”.
Anesthetic, analgesic, and euthanasia drugs must never be used past their expiration date
All expired controlled drugs should be properly discarded (through Comparative Medicine veterinary
technicians).
An up-to-date record of inventory, use, and balance of each DEA controlled substance is required. Old
log sheets should not be kept in the laboratory, but should be returned to CCM for reconciliation.
Controlled drugs must be securely stored in a locked drawer, cabinet, or safe that is not easily movable.
(A locked cash box outside of a locked drawer or file cabinet can be easily removed from the lab and is
not considered to be “secured” by DEA standards.)
Pharmaceutical grade drugs must be used if commercially available
Only the specific drugs, methods, and materials approved in the protocol may be used on animals,
unless written documentation is provided from a veterinarian permitting and justifying their immediate
use.
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All locations of DEA controlled drug storage (stock and working) must be included in the protocol.
VIVARIUM AND ANIMAL WELFARE:
Clearly label any special animal care instructions (ie. fasting, special water, special diet, etc) on the
applicable animal cages. Non-standard or medicated food/water must be included in the protocol.
Animals with fluid/food restrictions - Written records must be maintained to document restriction and
impact on animals. This record must be maintained daily and kept in the animal holding room for the
duration of the study,
Barrier training is required, and barrier procedures must be adhered to by everyone entering a barrier
facility/room, including wearing of protective clothing, disinfection of equipment, and proper handling of
animals and cages.
When animals are returned to the vivarium from the laboratories, they must be returned to the correct
room (ie. the quarantine room in barrier facilities), and have sufficient food and water available unless
otherwise approved.
Animals in cages or on carts should always concealed by a drape or bag during transport outside the
laboratory or vivarium.
Animals must always be sufficiently recovered from anesthesia prior to return to the vivarium or
transport pickup.
Any sick or injured animal(s) with weight loss of 20% or more must be noted on the vivarium health
report or euthanized.
Death must be confirmed in all euthanized animals before disposal (ie. by cervical dislocation, removal
of vital organ, bilateral thoracotomy).
Animal carcasses need proper and prompt disposal.
Empty animal boxes/cages should be promptly returned to vivarium for proper cleaning.
Maintain records of animal use, treatment, anesthesia, surgery, etc.
Guillotines, if used on live animals (even anesthetized ones), are required to have an official ACUC
“Guillotine Maintenance Record” sticker affixed, certifying sharpening within the last 12 months OR 250
animals. If sharpening based on animal numbers is used, a usage log must be kept, designating species
and animal numbers.
Guillotines, euthanasia or anesthetic chambers, and testing equipment should be cleaned of blood, fur and
excrements after every use.
Tumor sizes must never exceed 15mm diameter (mice) or 35mm (rat), or as otherwise approved in
protocol. Tumor measurements and animal weights must be recorded according to the ACUC Tumor
policy or the protocol.
Animals with ulcerated tumors should be euthanized.
Humane endpoints must be followed according to the protocol and ACUC policy.
NONSURVIVAL SURGERY/PROCEDURES:
There should be a clean area for surgeries. (No dirt, blood, fur, used syringes, etc.)
The surgery area should be free of unnecessary equipment and supplies.
The surgeon must wear gloves and protective clothing during any animal procedure or surgery.
Surgical instruments and equipment should be cleaned before use and between animals.
An external heat source should be applied to maintain the animal’s body temperature during surgery if the
procedure lasts more than 1 hour.
The surgeon must monitor the depth of anesthesia regularly, and adjust as needed to maintain appropriate
depth of anesthesia.
The method of euthanasia used must match the method listed on the protocol.
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RODENT SURVIVAL SURGERY:
(Refer to ACUC Policy on Rodent Surgery and Post-op Care)
There must be a dedicated area for survival surgery in the laboratory or vivarium.
The surgery area must be clean (no blood, fur, used syringes, etc.) and able to be sanitized.
The surgery area must be free of unnecessary equipment and supplies.
Drugs, fluids, and suture must be within their expiration dates.
The surgeon must be properly trained in aseptic technique and surgical skills, and the particular
procedure being done.
The surgeon must always wear sterile gloves, a mask, headcover, and protective clothing.
The surgical instruments must be initially sterilized.
Surgical instruments need to be cleaned of organic material and placed in a hot bead sterilizer or soaked in
70% alcohol between rodent surgeries performed consecutively on the same day.
The surgical site must be clipped, plucked, or depilated.
The surgical site must be prepped by scrubbing with 3 alternating rounds of: antiseptic scrub followed by
70% alcohol, then antiseptic solution.
The surgeon must monitor the depth of anesthesia regularly, and adjust as needed to maintain appropriate
depth of anesthesia.
An external heat source should be applied to maintain the animal’s body temperature during surgery and
recovery.
Each tissue layer should be closed individually.
The skin incision should be closed in an interrupted suture pattern. No silk suture is to be used in skin!
The analgesic listed in the protocol, MUST be administered either pre-op, intra-operatively or
immediately post-operatively, and repeated as listed on the protocol, or as recommended by a
veterinarian.
The animal should be observed/monitored regularly until recovered from anesthesia (conscious and at
least sternally recumbent).
Any non-absorbable sutures or wound clips must be removed within 10–14 days.
Written records must be maintained of anesthetic administered, surgery performed, post-op care, drugs
administered, and any complications.
Surgery cards from CCM must be completely filled out and placed on cages of all post-op animals.
Animals must be checked at least once daily until the incision is completely healed (at least four days
post-op)..
Any post-operative health problems must be reported to the veterinary staff.
The method of euthanasia used must match the method listed on the protocol.
LARGE ANIMALS/RABBITS (and all USDA regulated species):
All items listed for rodent survival surgery above also apply to larger species, but additionally:
Survival surgery is performed in a dedicated surgical suite.
Written records on anesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, surgery, and post-op monitoring and care must
be maintained and available within the vivarium. These include all drug administration notes (time, dose
given, route) and monitoring records. Records should be kept for at least 3 years, and be readily available
for inspection.
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SATELLITE FACILITIES:
Any area in which rats, mice, fish, or amphibians are maintained for 24 or more hours outside of a vivarium
must be listed as Satellite housing on an approved protocol. Satellite housing of USDA regulated species is
defined as more than 12 hours. Refer to the Policy on the Provision of Long-Term Animal Housing and
Husbandry by PI if the space is completely maintained by the lab and the animals never originated or are never
returned to the vivarium.
The ACUC Policy on Satellite Housing must be read and strictly adhered to.
Animals must be observed and monitored daily. This includes weekends and holidays! Daily
observations are recorded in a husbandry log as provided in the ACUC Policy, and available for
inspection. If not recorded, it will be considered not done.
Log should include daily temperature and humidity, daily health observations, feeding, and cage
changing.
Food must be stored in a container with a tightly fitted lid (e.g. Tupperware), and labeled with milling
date.
Any sick animals must be reported to the UVA veterinary staff or euthanized according to the approved
protocol, and reported on the logs.
Routine cage cleaning and changing must be performed and documented. Rodents: change cage bottoms
at least twice per week; water bottles at least once per week; other components every 2 weeks. Clean cage
components are obtained from vivarium staff. Soiled components are returned promptly.
The room containing the animals and the surfaces harboring the cages must be swept or wiped down as
needed and sanitized with a disinfectant solution at least every 2 weeks, and reported on the logs.
RODAC testing is required.
Appropriate light cycles must be provided.
AQUATIC SPECIES:
An SOP for aquatic animal husbandry must be approved by the ACUC and available in the animal room
for reference and inspection.
Daily logs of animal health observations, husbandry, and mortality, must be maintained and available for
inspection. Weekends and holidays are included.
Proper water quality must be maintained and recorded as per the SOP. Un-ionized ammonia must be
calculated.
Food must be stored in a container with a tightly fitted lid (e.g. Tupperware), and labeled with milling
date.
Appropriate light cycles must be provided.
Proper quarantine procedures must be used for sick animals. Records of treatment should be available.
There is NO food or drink in areas where animals are used or held.
GFI electrical outlets must be installed and potential electrical hazards eliminated (i.e. extension cords on
wet floors or over open tanks of water).
Aseptic techniques must be observed for all survival surgery on aquatic species, including proper surgeon
attire, equipment sterilization, animal prepping, and maintenance of aseptic technique throughout the
entire procedure.
Proper anesthesia, routine analgesic administration, animal recovery, postop monitoring, and euthanasia
procedures must be followed with aquatic species undergoing survival surgery.
No more than 6 oophorectomies on any single frog is allowed, with sufficient recovery time between
surgeries. Individual animal identification and surgical records must be available for inspection.
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