UCSF Criteria for Housing of Animals Outside of LARC Facilities

INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC) GUIDELINES FOR THE LABORATORY HOUSING OF RESEARCH ANIMALS (REVISED MAY 2013)

Research animals shall be housed in the facilities of the Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC); they may not be housed/ held in individual laboratories or study areas for more than 12 hours unless the IACUC protocol specifically approves Laboratory Housing.

Approval is contingent on the necessity of the use of non-LARC space, protocol justification, and suitability of the proposed location. Justification must be current with the objectives and design of the approved IACUC protocol and will be reviewed annually.

The PI is responsible for ensuring that the space is appropriately prepared and maintained for use as a laboratory housing location. Approval is only for the specific procedure, project, or protocol; one housing approval for a laboratory does not automatically apply to all protocols a laboratory may hold.

Once approved, animals must be housed in accord with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the following specific provisions:

1. Animals must be checked every day that the housing space is occupied, including weekends and holidays. LARC veterinary services (502-8687) must be contacted with any animal health concerns. 2. Standard sized cages are to be used unless specialized caging is necessary (and justified in the approved IACUC protocol). 3. Cages must be changed and cleaned at least once per week and new feed provided; water bottles and stoppers should be changed and cleaned weekly. 4. Lab personnel are responsible for husbandry duties unless other arrangements are contracted with LARC. 5. Dirty cages and equipment must be bagged and transported to a cage wash facility 6. Light source must be on a timer, set at a standard 12:12 cycle unless special lighting is justified in the protocol. 7. Feed and supplies must be appropriately stored in dated, lidded, leak-proof, vermin-proof containers and used within its shelf life. 8. The housing area must be posted with: a. Approved Protocol number(s) b. LARC veterinary staff emergency number c. Emergency contact information for lab staff d. Sign for reporting Animal Care and Use Concerns e. IACUC Policy on Expired Drugs and Materials Used in Animal Research f. A disinfection protocol for the laboratory housing area 9. The housing area must be kept clean and organized with proper disinfection procedures in place. 10. Ventilation, temperature and humidity must be adequate for the number of animals housed. 11. Lab Housing Daily Check sheets must be used to record animal care activities (checking animals, feeding, cleaning etc.) every day the housing space is occupied. 12. Temperature and humidity highs and lows must be recorded for every day that animals are present and Hygrometers/thermometers must be reset daily (min/max cleared). 13. The space must be available for IACUC inspection twice a year, and for unannounced USDA inspections (not mice, rats or birds). 24 hour access to this room is required and LARC veterinary staff may visit the space at any time. 14. Training is required for all lab members involved in the care of these animals, including the PI.

IAC3 (4/2013)