The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in mid-March.
These inspections are one of the most important tools we have for routinely assessing programmatic strengths and identifying areas for individual and collective improvement(s) in service to the animals entrusted to our care.
Through this lens of shared responsibility for safeguarding animal welfare and ensuring continued programmatic compliance, please review and discuss the findings, suggestions for improvement, and resources below with all members of your staff – including any students involved with research in your lab – in advance of Fall 2023 semi-annual facility inspections.
The Fall 2023 round of semi-annual IACUC facility inspections is scheduled for August and September.
Inspections will run through Thursday, September 21, and include any animal rooms, surgical suite support spaces, and areas where procedures are conducted with animals.
Common Deficiency Areas** Identified During Winter 2023 Inspections:
Examples:
- Expired materials, drugs, and substances found
- Materials and substances not appropriately labeled
- Anesthetic machines or anesthetic canisters were not properly maintained
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Create and maintain a regular schedule for reviewing substance expiration dates
- Review the Quick Reference Sheet: Managing Expired Drugs & Supplies
for best practices on developing a system to monitor expired materials - Ensure all materials/substances are labeled and dated, if necessary, upon arrival/order (review the Guidelines on the Preparation of Injectable Substances and Agents Administered to Animals 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, Storage, and Expiration of Substances, Agents, and Medical Materials Used in Animals)
- 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
Examples:
- Compressed gas cylinders not properly stored
- Eyewash stations not properly maintained
- Engineering controls (BSC, fume hoods, LEV) not certified annually
Suggestions for Improvement:
- 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
- Contact EHS at (734) 647-1143 for assistance with annual hood certification. Additional guidance is also available on the EHS website
Examples:
- Sanitation practices for all lab equipment that comes into direct contact with animals were not established and/or equipment was soiled
- Expired and/or unlabeled animal feed was found
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
- Mill and expiration dates for animal feed should be routinely checked to ensure that feed is in-date. Any secondary storage containers should also be clearly labeled with content information and expiration/mill date
- Contact your facility’s ULAM Husbandry Supervisor with questions or concerns
Examples:
- Walls, floors, or furniture required repair
- Water leakage was noted
- Labs and storage areas found to be cluttered
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
- Select one or two lab members to regularly review, and be responsible for, housekeeping items/tasks
**Percentages above represent the number of overall deficient findings in a given area (e.g., Physical Plant & Maintenance – 7% denotes that, of the total findings identified during Winter 2023 semi-annual facility inspections, 7% were related to physical plant and maintenance).
Questions?
Questions or concerns about semi-annual IACUC facility inspections, or any of the items outlined above, should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected] or (734) 763-8028.
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