Many pharmaceutical products used in animal-based research have a standard “Expiration Date” as well as a “Use-By-Date” (i.e., “Beyond Use Date”).
These dates are generally included on the package insert or vial and can often be found under the headings “Storage,” “Storage Instructions,” or “Dosage and Administration.”
Some products that are formulated by multiple manufacturers may have varying or no Use-By-Dates at all.
To ensure animal welfare and the rigor of scientific studies, regulatory oversight bodies require strict adherence to a product’s Beyond Use Date, if provided. As such, no drug can be used in an animal beyond its Use-By-Date.
Dates are generally written in one of two formats:
- “Discard any remaining volume after X number of punctures,” or
- “Discard any remaining volume X number of days after initial puncture.”
To help Study Teams identify where to find Beyond Use Dates (“BUDs”) on drug packaging, the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) has created a quick visual reference guide for five of the most commonly used anesthetic and analgesic drugs.
Click on each icon below to see a close-up image of where to find BUDs on the selected drug’s packaging.
Drug Name
Trade Name
Manufacturer
BUD Location**
Visual Examples
carprofen
Carprofen
Felix
- Outer box
- Package insert
- Inside label on vial
atipamezole hydrochloride
Antisedan
Zoetis
- Outer box
- Package insert
- Outside of vial
dexmedetomidine hydrochloride
Dexdomitor
Zoetis
- Package insert
- Outside of vial
enrofloxacin
Enrosite
Vet One
- Outer box
- Package insert
- Outside of vial
This guide is designed to complement the Beyond Use Dates for Frequently Used Anesthetic and Analgesic Drugs Table on the Drug Management page, launched earlier this year.
**Please note that neither resource is exhaustive, and information may change on a regular basis. When receiving drugs or other substances, please review all manufacturer-provided information carefully and label materials appropriately.
Additional Information
Detailed labeling and storage instructions can be found in the Policy on the Use, Storage, and Expiration of Substances, Agents, and Medical Materials Used in Animals and the Guidelines for the Storage of Sterile Items.
Questions about Beyond Use Dates, or the use of specific drugs and other medical materials in animals, should be directed to your ULAM Faculty Veterinarian.