Pl’s are encouraged to contact the IACUC Coordinator for assistance in determining a projects
categorization.
Project Categorization of Pain and Distress1
Category 1: Use of non-living tissues or fertile eggs.
In general: Category I investigations involve no handling or manipulations of live covered species.
Category II: Activities that may produce little or no pain or distress in animals.
In general: Category level II investigations involve the handling or manipulation of live covered species
that produce little or no pain or distress and would not warrant relief of discomfort.
Category III: Activities that may produce mild to moderate pain or distress in animals.
In general: Category level III investigations may produce minor distress, discomfort or short-duration
pain in live covered species in which every effort is made to relieve discomfort and to ensure the
animal’s wellbeing by providing supportive care.
Category IV: Activities that involve relief of significant pain or distress in animals.
In general: Category level IV investigations may produce significant pain or distress in live covered
species in which every effort is made to alleviate pain or discomfort and to ensure the animal’s
wellbeing by providing adequate supportive care. Additionally, veterinary care will be provided when
appropriate.
Category V: Activities that produce substantial or unavoidable pain and distress in animals.
In general: Such activities must be deemed necessary by design to receive IACUC approval. Category V
level investigations involve producing substantial or unavoidable pain and distress in live covered
species whereas the means to alleviate or manage adverse suffering is contraindicated.
1
The above categories were derived from guidelines described in:
The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: 8th Ed.
The USDA publication Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009)