Additional Tools to Support the Responsible Use of Drugs, Substances, and Other Agents in Animal Studies

The Animal Care & Use Program has created three new tools to assist the U-M research community with navigating the many nuanced requirements for the proper administration and use of medical materials, drugs, agents, and other substances in animal studies:

• Navigating the Proper Use of Substances, Agents, Medical Materials, and Drugs with Animals  – This interactive tool includes two unique scenarios, each with a series of commonly-asked questions. Upon selecting a specific scenario, users will be prompted to answer different questions to determine whether it is appropriate to use certain medical materials, agents, and/or substances in their animal work. Users are also able to view a curated list of references and resources, with the option to receive additional follow-up information via email.
• Scenario #1 Decision Tree: Using Expired Materials In or On An Animal – Available as a PDF download, this printable Decision Tree allows users to navigate, at-a-glance, one of the two scenarios above. Details about how to contact the veterinary care and compliance teams with follow-up questions are also included.
• Scenario #2 Decision Tree: Administering a Substance or Agent to an Animal – Also available via PDF download, this printable Decision Tree allows users to navigate, at-a-glance, another common-use-case scenario. Information about how to contact both the veterinary care and compliance teams with follow-up questions or concerns is also included.

These tools are designed to complement existing resources such as the Quick Reference Sheet: Monitoring Expired Drugs & Medical Materials , which outlines suggestions and best practices for how to develop a system to monitor for expired materials in the laboratory.

As a reminder, the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) approved several revisions to existing policies and guidelines in October to more clearly articulate programmatic expectations for the appropriate storage, labeling, and use of expired drugs and other medical materials in animal activities.

Questions?

• Questions about the use of specific drugs or other medical materials in animals should be directed to your ULAM Faculty Veterinarian.
• For assistance with establishing a system to monitor for expired materials in your laboratory, please contact the Quality Assurance Team in the Animal Care & Use Office at ACUO-RCAs@umich.edu.

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