Spring Semiannual Inspections

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will be conducting its spring semi-annual inspections of all facilities and laboratory space where animals are housed or used in research from May 3-14, 2004. The IACUC conducts facilities inspections and reviews the animal care program every six months to ensure compliance with applicable federal policies and regulations. During the inspection periods, laboratories using animals in research should have a knowledgeable individual available to answer questions and records should be readily available.

Common deficiencies usually encountered by the IACUC are listed below, to aid in the preparations. Any questions about the inspections or regulations regarding the use of animals in research can be directed to the IACUC at 443-287-3738 (phone) or 443-287-37347 (fax). The Animal Care and Use website is http://www.jhu.edu/animalcare.

Deficiencies Commonly Found During Semiannual Facilities Inspections

Below are the most common deficiencies in laboratories identified by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). They shouldn't occur, are easily detected and corrected. Please review your procedures to make sure they have been addressed.

Animals not checked daily
All animals should be checked daily including holidays and weekends and records kept. Room environmental temperature and relative humidity ranges in housing areas should be recorded daily.

Insufficient post procedural monitoring
Animals should be closely monitored after procedures until they are fully recovered from anesthesia. The first 12 hours after a procedure is especially critical. Monitoring should be recorded. Wound clips or skin sutures should be removed after 10-14 days.

Inadequate record keeping
Records should be complete, legible and accessible. Records should be kept for procedures, surgery, intra-operative, post-operative and post-procedural monitoring and care.

Dirty surgical areas
Surgery areas should be clean, easy to sanitize, clean and free of clutter.

Waste anesthetic gases not scavenged
Scavenge anesthetic gases using a dedicated system or through building exhaust.

Vaporizers not serviced
Vaporizers should be serviced annually and the date recorded.

Poor Sanitation
Animal housing areas, surgeries, surfaces and equipment should be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Post a cleaning and sanitation schedule, and record dates done.

Clutter
All animal use areas should be neat and free of clutter.

Incomplete cage cards
Cage cards should include current protocol number, source of animal, strain or stock, PI name, contacts of responsible individuals, and pertinent dates.

Expired protocols
Protocols cannot be used once expired. Cage cards with expired protocol numbers should be updated.

Overcrowded cages
Animals should not be housed in cages too crowded or too small for occupant(s).

Improper feed and bedding storage
Bedding and feed should be stored on pallets away from the wall. Opened bags of feed and bedding should be stored in vermin proof containers. Label containers with feed mill dates. Chemicals and other contaminants should not be stored in feed or bedding storage areas. Expired feed should be discarded.

Controlled drug storage
Controlled drugs and their records should be secured.

Unapproved housing
Housing animals outside the central facilities must be approved by the ACUC.

Unacceptable euthanasia method
Carbon dioxide for euthanasia must be obtained from compressed gas cylinders and not from dry ice.

Improper sharps disposal
Sharps should be disposed off in proper sharps containers. Containers should not be overfilled.

Overfilled biohazard containers
Use proper containers to dispose biohazards. Containers should not be overfilled.

Expired drugs and supplies
Outdated drugs and supplies should be identified and appropriately disposed of.

Inconsistent personal protective equipment (PPE) use
PPE is your last defense against work place hazards. Uniforms, scrubs or laboratory coats should be worn as indicated. These clothes should not be worn in public places.

Unsecured gas tanks
All gas tanks should be secured. Unsecured gas tanks are an injury hazard to people and animals.

Seminar Series

This month's IACUC seminar will discuss "Tips and Tricks for Writing an Animal Use Protocol". The seminar will be held in Ross 403 on Thursday April 22, 2004 at 12 noon. A "Rodent Handling" class will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 in Ross 450 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Pre-registration is required for the Rodent Handling class. Class size is limited to 10 people. Please send an email to pmatos1@jhmi.edu to register. For a complete listing of all the seminars please visit http://www.jhu.edu/animalcare/
training4.html

Dr. Marilyn Brown, Charles River Laboratories will present a seminar "Animal Welfare: Enhancing a Culture of Caring" on Thursday April 15, 2004 at 4:00 PM in W2008 Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The IACUC will present an "Orientation to Animal Care and use at Johns Hopkins University" on Monday, April 19, 2004 at 11:00 AM in Ames Hall, Homewood Campus. The event is free but registration is required. To register send an email to pmatos1@jhmi.edu or call 443-287-3738.

Drs. James Owiny and Alan Goldberg will discuss "Enhancing Humane Science - Improving Animal Research" on Wednesday April 21, 2004 at 12 noon in Room W3030, Bloomberg School of Public Health. Other dates for the discussions are 5/27/2004 at 12:00 noon in W3030 Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Return to top of Animal Research