UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Animal Ethics Committee
NOTIFICATION OF USE OF SCAVENGED TISSUES
N.B.: If live animals are to be procured or used, you must complete an application for a new biomedical
research project, wildlife project or tertiary teaching programme.
Notification must be made before tissue use commences. Email completed form to: animalethics@unisa.edu.au
Date scavenged tissue use is to begin?
Date scavenged tissue use is to end?
Does this application relate to a previously approved project or programme?
If so, give previous approval number(s)
Approximate number of animals to be used 1
1.
Animals or Tissues Required:
2.
Animal Source

Animal Care/Breeding Facility: Facility Manager Approval (Signature):
Details:

Animal carcass, organs, tissues, materials or substances acquired from another programme or project:
Primary Applicant(s) Approval (Signature/s):
Details:

Tissue Bank (General Use)

External supplier, researcher or Institution
Details:
3.
Risk Assessment
3.1.
Is there a reasonable expectation that the scavenged tissue may carry viable pathogenic micro-organisms or
toxins harmful to humans, other animals or the environment?
 YES2

NO
3.1.1. If yes, is any biohazard associated with use of this tissue classified as Risk Group 2 or higher?
 YES
3.2.

NO
Will your use of the scavenged tissue also involve the use of gene technology?
 YES

NO
If the answer to either 3.1.1 or 3.2 is “YES”, approval must be obtained from the IBC before commencing the activity
1
If this number is exceeded by more than 30%, a new Notification must be provided to the AEC.
If “YES”, this is a biohazard; consult “AS/NZS 2243.3:20102” Section 3 - Degree of Hazard from Micro-organisms to ascertain the level of risk
(Risk Group) associated with use of this tissue.
2
NOTE:
The use of scavenged tissue is not regulated by the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific
purposes (8th Edition, 2013), nor by the South Australian Animal Welfare Act 1985. The Code encourages the
sharing between researchers of tissues from deceased animals3 for in vitro work, training or method
development; University of South Australia strongly supports such use of scavenged tissue, as it contributes to
the Reduction, Replacement and Refinement principles of the Code. It is also recognised that dissection of
animals or organs may be required for some tertiary teaching courses.
Nevertheless, it is an Institutional requirement that use of scavenged tissues be documented and reported to
the AEC by way of the “Notification of Use of Tissue Scavenged” form. Notification of the use of scavenged
tissue must be submitted to the AEC prior to such use, in order to allow the AEC to determine if the purported
collection and use requires AEC or other approval.
The use of scavenged tissue is subject to the following terms:

The opportunity for collecting scavenged tissue must not influence the breeding of animals nor the time
or manner of humane killing of animals

Collection of organs, tissues, materials or substances from living animals is a scientific procedure
requiring a full application to the AEC

Animals must not be killed specifically to obtain carcasses, organs, tissues, materials or substances; this
is a scientific procedure requiring a full application to the AEC

The collection of scavenged tissue from Breeding Colonies or Animal Facility Surplus must have prior
permission from the Animal Facility Manager (or representative)

The collection of scavenged tissue from an AEC-approved project must have prior permission from the
Primary Applicant with responsibility for that project, unless the tissue has already been placed into a
general-use tissue bank
Statement:
I have read and understood the terms for use of scavenged tissue and will abide by them.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Noted by AEC Executive:
3
Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition 2013, Section 2, Paragraph 2.4.24