Preparation for AAALACi Site Visit March 26-30

1. Preparation for AAALACi Site VisitMarch 26-30 ‘Do we walk the talk?’

2. AAALAC, International • Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International • Why is accreditation and the site visit important? • AAALAC Accreditation demonstrates excellence in the Animal Care and Use Program and impacts your funding!

3. What will the inspectors look for? “This is now the only lab with glassware washed by a man with two doctorates and a restraining order signed by Carl Sagan.”

4. General considerations • Know your protocol – review & understand what is approved • Ensure personnel working with animals are listed on the appropriate protocol • Expired materials – check dates on all materials used in or on animals

5. General considerations It is ok to say “I don’t’ know”, but know who to ask.

6. Knowing how and why you do things is also important: • What training have you received for your current responsibilities? • What do the Room Entry Order signs mean? • What do you do if you are injured? • How does the red/yellow tag system work? • What PPE is required for a particular area? • Who should you contact if there are problems with the animals, facilities, or staff?

7. Room/Lab • General room appearance: • Is the room neat (includes carts, shelving and other storage)? • Is there accumulated dust or debris (clean bench paper)? • Items within the room: • Are unnecessary or inappropriate items being stored? • Is trash disposed of properly? • Is the food container labeled and within date? • Proper PPE available and in use? • For surgery areas, space is separated and aseptic technique applied?

8. Identification • Bar code • Breeding information • Special husbandry • Experimental information

9. Husbandry • Is there food and water present? • Are the animals clean and dry? • Are the animal numbers consistent with our policy? • Are the cage and accessories appropriate?

10. Clinical Cases • All sick/injured animals must be identified and under observation and/or treatment • The veterinary staff must be involved in determining the appropriate treatment for any sick/injured animals • Treatments and/or observations must be documented • Records must be readily available to inspectors

11. Transportation • Restricted access areas • Secured • Covered • Public areas • Secured • Secondary container • Escape-proof • ARP transport

12. Controlled Substances • OH&S registration • IACUC approval • Maintain log sheets • 2 locks security • Labels on diluted or mixed substances (1 month expiration) • Return expired or unused controlled substances to OH&S

13. Analgesia • Unless an exemption is granted by IACUC, all animals undergoing any surgical procedure must be treated pre-surgically with an analgesic drug • Need for supplemental analgesia should be assessed post-surgically • Records must be readily available to inspectors

14. Survival Surgery • Initial sterilization of instruments • Fully sterilized pack to begin • Use glass bead sterilizer or chemical disinfectant between rodents (up to 5 mice or 2 hrs) • Proper Aseptic technique (including rodents) • Prep animal: clip hair, disinfect skin, drape • Prep of surgeon: clean, long-sleeved lab coat; mask; bonnet; hand wash; sterilized gloves • Records must be readily available to inspectors • Date of surgery, type of procedure, name, dose, route of anesthetic, analgesic, fluids, other drugs

15. Survival Surgery • Initial sterilization of instruments • Use glass bead sterilizer or 70% ethanol (up to 5 mice) to disinfect instruments between rodents • Proper Aseptic technique (including rodents) • Prep animal: clip hair, disinfect skin, drape • Prep of surgeon: clean, long-sleeved lab coat; mask; bonnet; hand wash; sterilized gloves • Records must be readily available to inspectors • Date of surgery, type of procedure, name, dose, route of anesthetic, analgesic, fluids, other drugs

16. Post-Surgical Observation • It is the investigator’s responsibility to oversee the animal’s post-surgical recovery • Check the animal frequently after surgery until it is ambulatory • Examine daily, including weekends and holidays, until sutures/wound clips are removed (7 to 10 days post-op) • Records must be readily available to inspectors • Daily post-operative monitoring: date, appearance, presence/absence of signs of pain, any treatment, initials

17. Tumor studies • Unless an exemption is granted by IACUC, all tumor studies must follow the IACUC Policy “Tumors (Neoplasms)” • Animals with tumors must be examined at least 3 nonconsecutive days per week. • If tumors are rapidly growing, invasive, metastasizing, or have potential to induce pain or distress they must be monitored at least daily.

18. Tumor studies • Current endpoint monitoring guidelines must be posted in the animal room. • Documentation of monitoring must be maintained and should be available upon request.

19. Infectious disease studies • Endpoint monitoring guidelines must be detailed in the protocol. • Documentation of monitoring must be maintained and should be available upon request.

20. Record keeping • Nonstandard Husbandry Form (Appendix 5) • Surgical Records • Controlled Substances • Colony Maintenance • Protocols available to staff online (does everyone know how to access?) • Research notebooks

21. Safety • Sharps disposal • Hood/BSC certification • Gas cylinders • Signage/Labels: • Special diet • Euthanasia • Hazards (AUSI and stickers) • Eye wash stations • Bite kits (primate users only)

22. Reporting Deficiencies What do you do if you see something wrong?

23. Questions