Lessons Learned from Fall 2021 Semi-Annual Facility Inspections
The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in mid-September. On behalf of our IACUC members – many of whom are your fellow U-M scientific peers – we greatly appreciate your cooperation and participation in these visits.
We understand that your time is valuable and that each visit to your lab requires some time away from your research.
We hope you join us in embracing the inspection process as an opportunity for further evaluation, assessment, and dialogue on the ways we can individually and collectively refine our practices in service to the animals entrusted to our care.
Through this lens of shared responsibility for safeguarding animal welfare and ensuring programmatic compliance, please review and discuss the findings, suggestions for improvement, and additional resources below with all members of your lab staff, including any students involved with research in your lab.
Common Deficiency Areas** Identified During Fall 2021 Inspections:
Examples:
- Anesthetic machines or anesthetic canisters were not properly maintained
- Used needles were found recapped, sheared, bent, or broken
- Compressed gas cylinders not properly stored or maintained
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Review the Policy on Maintaining Anesthetic Machines and Vaporizers, which states that anesthetic machines/vaporizers must be manually assessed at yearly intervals to ensure high-quality anesthesia for research animals and a safe working environment for personnel
- Utilize ULAM services for quarterly anesthetic machine servicing and certification
- Download and review the EHS Needle Recapping and Handling Standard Operating Procedure (Word document)
- Download and review EHS Compressed Gas Guidelines and SOPs, which outline that storage of compressed gas cylinders requires sturdy chains or straps secured to a wall or cabinet, and/or use of a cylinder stand
Examples:
- Expired materials/drugs found
- Materials and substances not labeled
- Improper storage of controlled substances
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Review the Quick Reference Sheet: Managing Expired Drugs & Supplies for best practices on developing a system to monitor expired materials
- Create and maintain a regular schedule for reviewing substance expiration dates
- Ensure all materials/substances are labeled and dated, if necessary, upon arrival/order (review the Guidelines on the Preparation, Storage and Expiration of Injectable Medications for more information)
- Remove expired substances or materials from circulation/use or appropriately label for non-recovery use only (as outlined by the Policy on the Use and Storage of Expired Drugs and Medical Materials in Animals)
Examples:
- Sanitation practices for all lab equipment that comes into direct contact with animals were not established and/or equipment was soiled
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Download the Quick Reference Sheet: Equipment Cleaning & Sanitization Guidance to familiarize yourself with the procedures and expectations for equipment sanitization and testing
Examples:
- Unsanitizable items (e.g., cloth chairs, unsealed wood) being used
- Labs and procedure areas were found to be cluttered
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Fabric chairs in any areas where biological agents or other hazardous materials/chemicals are handled must be covered with a non-porous material that can be easily sanitized
- Review additional lab safety procedures in the EHS Chemical Hygiene Plan or consult with an EHS representative
- Select one or two lab members to regularly review, and be responsible for, housekeeping items/tasks
Examples:
- Walls, floors, or furniture required repair
- Water leakage was noted
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Work with your ULAM Husbandry Supervisor and/or Plant Operations staff to address any service or facility repairs in a timely manner
Examples:
- Monitoring sheets (post-operative, drug usage) were not available or incomplete
- Equipment was not properly sterilized for surgery
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Consult your IACUC protocol for details on expected post-operative/post-procedural monitoring
- Contact your ULAM Faculty Veterinarian for additional information and/or training on post-operative care
- Download and print post-operative record templates
- Download the Quick Reference Sheet: Avoiding Common Mistakes When Completing Surgical Records for Mice and Rats
- Review the Guidelines on the Performance of Surgery in Rodents and Non-Rodent Mammals
**Percentages above represent the number of overall deficient findings in a given area (e.g., General Housekeeping – 15% denotes that,
of the total findings identified during Fall 2021 IACUC semi-annual facility inspections, 15% were related to general housekeeping).
The IACUC will begin its next round of semi-annual facility inspections in February 2022. Inspections will run through mid-March and include any animal rooms, surgical suite support spaces, and areas where procedures are conducted with animals. Additional information will be shared on the ACU website and in future email communications.
Inspection schedules and reminders are sent to each PI/Study Team member based on the buildings/rooms on animal use protocol(s) in eRAM. Inspection notices and reminders are automatically sent by eRAM at 2-week and 4-day intervals leading up to the assigned inspection date.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about semi-annual IACUC facility inspections, or any of the items outlined above, please contact the Animal Care & Use Office at acuoffice@umich.edu or (734) 763-8028.