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Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996)

Chapter: 1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities

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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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1
Institutional Policies and Responsibilities

Proper care, use, and humane treatment of animals used in research, testing, and education (referred to in this Guide as animal care and use) require scientific and professional judgment based on knowledge of the needs of the animals and the special requirements of the research, testing, and educational programs. The guidelines in this section are intended to aid in developing institutional policies governing the care and use of animals.

Each institution should establish and provide resources for an animal care and use program that is managed in accord with this Guide and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, such as the federal Animal Welfare Regulations, or AWRs (CFR 1985), and Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or PHS Policy (PHS 1996). To implement the recommendations in this Guide effectively, an institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) must be established to oversee and evaluate the program.

Responsibility for directing the program is generally given either to a veterinarian with training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine or to another qualified professional. At least one veterinarian qualified through experience or training in laboratory animal science and medicine or in the species being used must be associated with the program. The institution is responsible for maintaining records of the activities of the IACUC and for conducting an occupational health and safety program.

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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MONITORING THE CARE AND USE OF ANIMALS

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

The responsible administrative official at each institution must appoint an IACUC, also referred to as "the committee," to oversee and evaluate the institution's animal program, procedures, and facilities to ensure that they are consistent with the recommendations in this Guide, the AWRs, and the PHS Policy. It is the institution's responsibility to provide suitable orientation, background materials, access to appropriate resources, and, if necessary, specific training to assist IACUC members in understanding and evaluating issues brought before the committee.

Committee membership should include the following:

  • A doctor of veterinary medicine, who is certified (see American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, ACLAM, Appendix B) or has training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine or in the use of the species in question.

  • At least one practicing scientist experienced in research involving animals.

  • At least one public member to represent general community interests in the proper care and use of animals. Public members should not be laboratory animal users, be affiliated with the institution, or be members of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution.

The size of the institution and the nature and extent of the research, testing, and educational programs will determine the number of members of the committee and their terms of appointment. Additional information about committee composition can be found in the PHS Policy and the AWRs.

The committee is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the animal care and use program and its components described in this Guide. Its functions include inspection of facilities; evaluation of programs and animal-activity areas; submission of reports to responsible institutional officials; review of proposed uses of animals in research, testing, or education (i.e., protocols); and establishment of a mechanism for receipt and review of concerns involving the care and use of animals at the institution.

The IACUC must meet as often as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but it should meet at least once every 6 months. Records of committee meetings and of results of deliberations should be maintained. The committee should review the animal care program and inspect the animal facilities and activity areas at least once every 6 months. After review and inspection, a written report, signed by a majority of the IACUC, should be made to the responsible administrative officials of the institution on the status of the animal care and use program and

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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other activities as stated herein and as required by federal, state, or local regulations and policies. Protocols should be reviewed in accord with the AWRs, the PHS Policy, U.S. Government Principles for Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training (IRAC 1985; see Appendix D), and this Guide (see footnote, p.2).

Animal Care and Use Protocols

The following topics should be considered in the preparation and review of animal care and use protocols:

  • Rationale and purpose of the proposed use of animals.

  • Justification of the species and number of animals requested. Whenever possible, the number of animals requested should be justified statistically.

  • Availability or appropriateness of the use of less-invasive procedures, other species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulation (see Appendix A, "Alternatives").

  • Adequacy of training and experience of personnel in the procedures used.

  • Unusual housing and husbandry requirements.

  • Appropriate sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia. (Scales of pain or invasiveness might aid in the preparation and review of protocols; see Appendix A, "Anesthesia, Pain and Surgery.")

  • Unnecessary duplication of experiments.

  • Conduct of multiple major operative procedures.

  • Criteria and process for timely intervention, removal of animals from a study, or euthanasia if painful or stressful outcomes are anticipated.

  • Postprocedure care.

  • Method of euthanasia or disposition of animal.

  • Safety of working environment for personnel.

Occasionally, protocols include procedures that have not been previously encountered or that have the potential to cause pain or distress that cannot be reliably controlled. Such procedures might include physical restraint, multiple major survival surgery, food or fluid restriction, use of adjuvants, use of death as an end point, use of noxious stimuli, skin or corneal irritancy testing, allowance of excessive tumor burden, intracardiac or orbital-sinus blood sampling, or the use of abnormal environmental conditions. Relevant objective information regarding the procedures and the purpose of the study should be sought from the literature, veterinarians, investigators, and others knowledgeable about the effects on animals. If little is known regarding a specific procedure, limited pilot studies designed to assess the effects of the procedure on the animals, conducted under IACUC oversight, might be appropriate. General guidelines for evaluation

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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of some of those methods are provided in this section, but they might not apply in all instances.

Physical Restraint

Physical restraint is the use of manual or mechanical means to limit some or all of an animal's normal movement for the purpose of examination, collection of samples, drug administration, therapy, or experimental manipulation. Animals are restrained for brief periods, usually minutes, in most research applications.

Animals can be physically restrained briefly either manually or with restraint devices. Restraint devices should be suitable in size, design, and operation to minimize discomfort or injury to the animal. Many dogs, nonhuman primates (e.g., Reinhardt 1991, 1995), and other animals can be trained, through use of positive reinforcement, to present limbs or remain immobile for brief procedures.

Prolonged restraint, including chairing of nonhuman primates, should be avoided unless it is essential for achieving research objectives and is approved by the IACUC. Less-restrictive systems that do not limit an animal's ability to make normal postural adjustments, such as the tether system for nonhuman primates and stanchions for farm animals, should be used when compatible with protocol objectives (Bryant 1980; Byrd 1979; Grandin 1991; McNamee and others 1984; Morton and others 1987; Wakeley and others 1974). When restraint devices are used, they should be specifically designed to accomplish research goals that are impossible or impractical to accomplish by other means or to prevent injury to animals or personnel.

The following are important guidelines for restraint:

  • Restraint devices are not to be considered normal methods of housing.

  • Restraint devices should not be used simply as a convenience in handling or managing animals.

  • The period of restraint should be the minimum required to accomplish the research objectives.

  • Animals to be placed in restraint devices should be given training to adapt to the equipment and personnel.

  • Provision should be made for observation of the animal at appropriate intervals, as determined by the IACUC.

  • Veterinary care should be provided if lesions or illnesses associated with restraint are observed. The presence of lesions, illness, or severe behavioral change often necessitates temporary or permanent removal of the animal from restraint.

Multiple Major Surgical Procedures

Major surgery penetrates and exposes a body cavity or produces substantial

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
×

impairment of physical or physiologic function. Multiple major survival surgical procedures on a single animal are discouraged but may be permitted if scientifically justified by the user and approved by the IACUC. For example, multiple major survival surgical procedures can be justified if they are related components of a research project, if they will conserve scarce animal resources (NRC 1990; see also footnote, p.2), or if they are needed for clinical reasons. If multiple major survival surgery is approved, the IACUC should pay particular attention to animal well-being through continuing evaluation of outcomes. Cost savings alone is not an adequate reason for performing multiple major survival surgical procedures (AWRs).

Food or Fluid Restriction

When experimental situations require food or fluid restriction, at least minimal quantities of food and fluid should be available to provide for development of young animals and to maintain long-term well-being of all animals. Restriction for research purposes should be scientifically justified, and a program should be established to monitor physiologic or behavioral indexes, including criteria (such as weight loss or state of hydration) for temporary or permanent removal of an animal from the experimental protocol (Van Sluyters and Oberdorfer 1991). Restriction is typically measured as a percentage of the ad libitum or normal daily intake or as percentage change in an animal's body weight.

Precautions that should be used in cases of fluid restriction to avoid acute or chronic dehydration include daily recording of fluid intake and recording of body weight at least once a week (NIH 1990)-or more often, as might be needed for small animals, such as rodents. Special attention should be given to ensuring that animals consume a suitably balanced diet (NYAS 1988) because food consumption might decrease with fluid restriction. The least restriction that will achieve the scientific objective should be used. In the case of conditioned-response research protocols, use of a highly preferred food or fluid as positive reinforcement, instead of restriction, is recommended. Dietary control for husbandry or clinical purposes is addressed in Chapter 2.

VETERINARY CARE

Adequate veterinary care must be provided, including access to all animals for evaluation of their health and well-being. Institutional mission, programmatic goals, and size of the animal program will determine the need for full-time, part-time, or consultative veterinary services. Visits by a consulting or part-time veterinarian should be at intervals appropriate to programmatic needs. For specific responsibilities of the veterinarian, see Chapter 3.

Ethical, humane, and scientific considerations sometimes require the use of sedatives, analgesics, or anesthetics in animals (see Appendix A). An attending

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
×

veterinarian (i.e., a veterinarian who has direct or delegated authority) should give research personnel advice that ensures that humane needs are met and are compatible with scientific requirements. The AWRs and PHS Policy require that the attending veterinarian have the authority to. oversee the adequacy of other aspects of animal care and use. These can include animal husbandry and nutrition, sanitation practices, zoonosis control, and hazard containment.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

AWRs and PHS Policy require institutions to ensure that people caring for or using animals are qualified to do so. The number and qualifications of personnel required to conduct and support an animal care and use program depend on several factors, including the type and size of institution, the administrative structure for providing adequate animal care, the characteristics of the physical plant, the number and species of animals maintained, and the nature of the research, testing, and educational activities.

Personnel caring for animals should be appropriately trained (see Appendix A, ''Technical and Professional Education"), and the institution should provide for formal or on-the-job training to facilitate effective implementation of the program and humane care and use of animals. According to the programmatic scope, personnel will be required with expertise in other disciplines, such as animal husbandry, administration, laboratory animal medicine and pathology, occupational health and safety, behavioral management, genetic management, and various other aspects of research support.

There are a number of options for the training of technicians. Many states have colleges with accredited programs in veterinary technology (AVMA 1995); most are 2-year programs that result in associate of science degrees, and some are 4-year programs that result in bachelor of science degrees. Nondegree training, with certification programs for laboratory animal technicians and technologists, can be obtained from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). There are commercially available training materials that are appropriate for self-study (Appendix B). Personnel using or caring for animals should also participate regularly in continuing-education activities relevant to their responsibilities. They are encouraged to be involved in local and national meetings of AALAS and other relevant professional organizations. On-the-job training should be part of every technician's job and should be supplemented with institution-sponsored discussion and training programs and with reference materials applicable to their jobs and the species with which they work (Kreger 1995). Coordinators of institutional training programs can seek assistance from the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) and ILAR (NRC 1991). The Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC 1993) and guidelines of some other countries are valuable additions to the libraries of laboratory animal scientists (Appendix B).

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Investigators, technical personnel, trainees, and visiting investigators who perform animal anesthesia, surgery, or other experimental manipulations must be qualified through training or experience to accomplish these tasks in a humane and scientifically acceptable manner.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PERSONNEL

An occupational health and safety program must be part of the overall animal care and use program (CDC and NIH 1993; CFR 1984a,b,c; PHS Policy). The program must be consistent with federal, state, and local regulations and should focus on maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. The program will depend on the facility, research activities, hazards, and animal species involved. The National Research Council publication Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals (NRC In press) contains guidelines and references for establishing and maintaining an effective, comprehensive program (also see Appendix A). An effective program relies on strong administrative support and interactions among several institutional functions or activities, including the research program (as represented by the investigator), the animal care and use program (as represented by the veterinarian and the IACUC), the environmental health and safety program, occupational health services, and administration (e.g., human resources, finance, and facility-maintenance personnel). Operational and day-to-day responsibility for safety in the workplace, however, resides with the laboratory or facility supervisor (e.g., principal investigator, facility director, or veterinarian) and depends on performance of safe work practices by all employees.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Professional staff who conduct and support research programs that involve hazardous biologic, chemical, or physical agents (including ionizing and nonionizing radiation) should be qualified to assess dangers associated with the programs and to select safeguards appropriate to the risks. An effective occupational health and safety program ensures that the risks associated with the experimental use of animals are reduced to acceptable levels. Potential hazards-such as animal bites, chemical cleaning agents, allergens, and zoonoses-that are inherent in or intrinsic to animal use should also be identified and evaluated. Health and safety specialists with knowledge in appropriate disciplines should be involved in the assessment of risks associated with hazardous activities and in the development of procedures to manage such risks. The extent and level of participation of personnel in the occupational health and safety program should be based on the hazards posed by the animals and materials used; on the exposure intensity, duration, and frequency; on the susceptibility of the personnel; and on the history of occupational illness and injury in the particular workplace (Clark 1993).

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Personnel Training

Personnel at risk should be provided with dearly defined procedures for conducting their duties, should understand the hazards involved, and should be proficient in implementing the required safeguards.

Personnel should be trained regarding zoonoses, chemical safety, microbiologic and physical hazards (including those related to radiation and allergies), unusual conditions or agents that might be part of experimental procedures (including the use of genetically engineered animals and the use of human tissue in immunocompromised animals), handling of waste materials, personal hygiene, and other considerations (e.g., precautions to be taken during personnel pregnancy, illness, or decreased immunocompetence) as appropriate to the risk imposed by their workplace.

Personal Hygiene

It is essential that all personnel maintain a high standard of personal cleanliness. Clothing suitable for use in the animal facility and laboratories in which animals are used should be supplied and laundered by the institution. A commercial laundering service is acceptable in many situations; however, appropriate arrangements should be made to decontaminate clothing exposed to potential hazards. Disposable gloves, masks, head covers, coats, coveralls, and shoe covers might be desirable in some circumstances. Personnel should wash their hands and change clothing as often as necessary to maintain personal hygiene. Outer garments worn in the animal rooms should not be worn outside the animal facility. Personnel should not be permitted to eat, drink, use tobacco products, or apply cosmetics in animal rooms.

Facilities, Procedures, and Monitoring

Facilities required to support occupational health and safety concerns associated with animal care and use programs will vary. Because a high standard of personal cleanliness is essential, facilities and supplies for meeting this obligation should be provided. Washing and showering facilities appropriate to the program should be available. Facilities, equipment, and procedures should also be designed, selected, and developed to provide for ergonomically sound operations that reduce the potential of physical injury to personnel (such as might be caused by the lifting of heavy equipment or animals and the use of repetitive movements). Safety equipment should be properly maintained and routinely calibrated.

The selection of appropriate animal housing systems requires professional knowledge and judgment and depends on the nature of the hazards in question, the types of animals used, and the design of the experiments. Experimental animals should be housed so that potentially contaminated food and bedding, feces,

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
×

and urine can be handled in a controlled manner. Facilities, equipment, and procedures should be provided for appropriate bedding disposal.

Appropriate methods should be used for assessing exposure to potentially hazardous biologic, chemical, and physical agents where the possibility of exceeding permissible exposure limits (PELs) exists (CFR 1984b).

Animal Experimentation Involving Hazards

In selecting specific safeguards for animal experimentation with hazardous agents, careful attention should be given to procedures for animal care and housing, storage and disbursement of the agents, dose preparation and administration, body-fluid and tissue handling, waste and carcass disposal, and personal protection. Special safety equipment should be used in combination with appropriate management and safe practices. As a general rule, safety depends on trained personnel who rigorously follow safe practices.

Institutions should have written policies governing experimentation with hazardous biologic, chemical, and physical agents. An oversight process (such as use of a safety committee) should be developed to involve persons who are knowledgeable in the evaluation of hazards and safety issues. Because the use of animals in such studies requires special considerations, the procedures and facilities to be used should undergo review for specific safety concerns. Formal safety programs should be established to assess the hazards, determine the safeguards needed for their control, ensure that the staff has the necessary training and skills, and ensure that the facilities are adequate for the safe conduct of the research. Technical support should be provided to monitor and ensure compliance with institutional safety policies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (1993) and the National Research Council (In press) recommend practices and procedures, safety equipment, and facility requirements for working with hazardous biologic agents and materials. Facilities that handle agents of unknown risk should consult with appropriate CDC personnel about hazard control and medical surveillance.

Special facilities and safety equipment are needed to protect the animal care and investigative staff, other occupants of the facility, the public, animals, and the environment from exposure to hazardous biologic, chemical, and physical agents used in animal experimentation. Facilities used for animal experimentation with hazardous agents should be separated from other animal housing and support areas, research and clinical laboratories, and patient-care facilities and should be appropriately identified; and access to them should be limited to authorized personnel. Such facilities should be designed and constructed to facilitate cleaning and maintenance of mechanical systems. A properly managed and used double corridor facility or barrier entry system is an effective means of reducing cross-

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
×

contamination. Floor drains should always contain liquid or be sealed effectively by other means. Automatic trap priming can be provided to ensure that traps remain filled.

Hazardous agents should be contained within the study environment. Control of airflow (such as through the use of biologic-safety cabinets) that minimizes the escape of contaminants is a primary barrier used in the handling and administration of hazardous agents and the performance of necropsies on contaminated animals (CDC 1995; Kruse and others 1991). Special features of the facility-such as airlocks, negative air pressure, air filters, and redundant mechanical equipment with automatic switching-are secondary barriers aimed at preventing accidental release of hazards outside the facility and work environment.

Exposure to anesthetic waste gases should be limited. This is usually accomplished by using various scavenging techniques. If ether is used, personnel safety should be ensured by proper use of signs and by using equipment and practices to minimize risks associated with its explosiveness.

Personal Protection

Personal protective equipment should be provided, and other safety measures should be adopted when needed. Animal care personnel should wear appropriate institution-issued protective clothing, shoes or shoe covers, and gloves. Clean protective clothing should be provided as often as necessary. If it is appropriate, personnel should shower when they leave the animal care, procedure, or dose-preparation areas. Protective clothing and equipment should not be worn beyond the boundary of the hazardous-agent work area or the animal facility. Personnel with potential exposure to hazardous agents should be provided with personal protective equipment appropriate to the agents (CFR 1984c). For example, personnel exposed to nonhuman primates should be provided with such protective items as gloves, arm protectors, masks, and face shields. Hearing protection should be provided in high-noise areas. Personnel working in areas where they might be exposed to contaminated airborne particulate material or vapors should be provided with suitable respiratory protection (CFR 1984c).

Medical Evaluation and Preventive Medicine for Personnel

Development and implementation of a program of medical evaluation and preventive medicine should involve input from trained health professionals, such as occupational health physicians and nurses. Confidentiality and other medical and legal factors must be considered in the context of appropriate federal, state, and local regulations.

A health-history evaluation before work assignment is advisable to assess potential risks for individual employees. Periodic medical evaluations are advis-

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
×

able for people in some risk categories. An appropriate immunization schedule should be adopted. It is important to immunize animal care personnel against tetanus. In addition, pre-exposure immunization should be offered to people at risk of infection or exposure to such agents as rabies or hepatitis B virus. Vaccination is recommended if research is to be conducted on infectious diseases for which effective vaccines are available. Specific recommendations can be found in the CDC and NIH publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (1993). Pre-employment or pre-exposure serum collection is advisable only in specific circumstances as determined by an occupational health and safety professional (NRC In press). In such cases, identification, traceability, retention, and storage conditions of samples should be considered and the purpose for which the serum samples will be used must be consistent with applicable state laws and consistent with the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (Federal Register 56(117): 28002-28032, June 18, 1991).

Zoonosis surveillance should be a part of an occupational health program (CDC and NIH 1993; Fox and others 1984; NRC In press). Personnel should be instructed to notify their supervisors of potential or known exposures and of suspected health hazards and illnesses. Clear procedures should be established for reporting all accidents, bites, scratches. and allergic reactions (NRC In press).

Nonhuman-primate diseases that are transmissible to humans can be serious hazards. Animal technicians, clinicians, investigators, predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees, research technicians, consultants, maintenance workers, security personnel, and others who have contact with nonhuman primates or have duties in nonhuman-primate housing areas should be routinely screened for tuberculosis. Because of the potential for Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1 (formerly Herpesvirus simiae) exposure, personnel who work with macaques should have access to and be instructed in the use of bite and scratch emergency-care stations (Holmes and others 1995). A procedure should be established for ensuring medical care for bites and scratches.

REFERENCES

AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 1995. Accredited programs in veterinary technology. Pp.236-240 in 1995 AVMA Membership Directory and Resource Manual. 44th ed. Schaumburg. Ill.: AVMA.


Bryant. J. M. 1980. Vest and tethering system to accommodate catheters and a temperature monitor for nonhuman primates. Lab. Anim. Sci. 30(4. Part I):706-705.

Byrd. L. D. 1979. A tethering system for direct measurement of cardiovascular function in the caged baboon. Am. J. Physiol. 236:H775-H779.


CCAC (Canadian Council on Animal Care) 1993. Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals. Vol. 1.2nd ed. E. D. Olfert. B. M. Cross. and A. A. McWilliam. eds. Ontario. Canada: Canadian Council on Animal Care. 211 pp.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and NIH (National Institutes of Health). 1993. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. 3rd ed. HHS Publication No. (CDC) 93-8395, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and NIH (National Institutes of Health). 1995. Primary Containment for Biohazards: Selection. Installation and Use of Biological Safety Cabinets. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). 1984a. Title 10; Part 20, Standards for Protection Against Radiation. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register.

CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). 1984b. Title 29; Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards; Subpart G. Occupation Health and Environmental Control, and Subpart Z. Toxic and Hazardous Substances. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register.

CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). 1984c. Title 29: Part 1910. Occupational Safety and Health Standards; Subpart I. Personal Protective Equipment. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register.

CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). 1985. Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Subchapter A (Animal Welfare). Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register.

Clark, J. M. 1993. Planning for safety: biological and chemical hazards. Lab Anim. 22:33-38.


Fox, J. G., C. E. Newcomer, and H. Rozmiarek. 1984. Selected zoonoses and other health hazards. Pp.614-648 in Laboratory Animal Medicine. J. G. Fox, B. J. Cohen, and F.M. Loew. eds. New York: Academic Press.


Grandin, T. 1991. Livestock behavior and the design of livestock handling facilities. Pp.96-125 in Handbook of Facilities Planning. Vol.2. Laboratory Animal Facilities. New York: Van Nostrand. 422 pp.


Holmes, G. P., L. E. Chapman, J. A. Stewart, S. E. Straus, J. K. Hilliard, D. S. Davenport, and the B Virus Working Group. 1995. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of B-virus infections in exposed persons. Clin. Infect. Dis. 20:421-439.


IRAC (Interagency Research Animal Committee). 1985. U.S. Government Principles for Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing. Research, and Training. Federal Register, May 20, 1985. Washington, D.C.: Office of Science and Technology Policy.


Kreger. M. D., 1995. Training Materials for Animal Facility Personnel: AWIC Quick Bibliography Series, 95-08. Beltsville, Md.: National Agricultural Library.

Kruse, R. H., W. H. Puckett, and J. H. Richardson. 1991. Biological safety cabinetry . Clin. Micro. Reviews 4:207-241.


McNamee, G. A.. Jr., R. W. Wannemacher, Jr.. R. E. Dinterman. H. Rozmiarek, and R. D. Montrey. 1984. A surgical procedure and tethering system for chronic blood sampling, infusion, and temperature monitoring in caged nonhuman primates. Lab. Anim. Sci. 34(3):303-307.

Morton, W. R., G. H. Knitter, P. M. Smith, T. G. Susor. and K. Schmitt. 1987. Alternatives to chronic restraint of nonhuman primates. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 191(10):1282-1286.


NIH (National Institutes of Health). 1990. Guidelines for Diet Control in Behavioral Study. Bethesda, Md.: Animal Research Advisory Committee. NIH.

NRC (National Research Council). 1990. Important laboratory animal resources: selection criteria and funding mechanisms for their preservation. A report of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Committee on Preservation of Laboratory Animal Resources. ILAR News 32(4):A1-A32.

NRC (National Research Council). 1991. Education and Training in the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: A Guide for Developing Institutional Programs. A report of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Committee on Educational Programs in Laboratory Animal Science. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 152 pp.

NRC (National Research Council). In press. Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals. A report of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources Committee on Occupational Safety and Health in Research Animal Facilities. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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NYAS (New York Academy of Sciences). 1988. Interdisciplinary Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Education. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.


PHS (Public Health Service). 1996. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28 pp. [PL 99-158, Health Research Extension Act, 1985]


Reinhardt, V. 1991. Training adult male rhesus monkeys to actively cooperate during in-homecage venipuncture. Anim. Technol. 42(1):11-17.

Reinhardt, V. 1995. Restraint methods of laboratory nonhuman primates: a critical review. Anim. Welf. 4:221-238.


Van Sluyters, R. C., and M. D. Oberdorfer, eds. 1991. Preparation and Maintenance of Higher Mammals During Neuroscience Experiments. Report of National Institute of Health Workshop. NIH No.91-3207. Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health.


Wakeley, H., J. Dudek. and J. Kruckeberg. 1974. A method for preparing and maintaining rhesus monkeys with chronic venous catheters. Behav. Res. Methods Instrum. 6:329-331.

Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Suggested Citation:"1 Institutional Policies and Responsibilities." National Research Council. 1996. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5140.
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Page 20
Next: 2 Animal Environment, Housing, and Management »
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A respected resource for decades, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been revised by a committee of experts, based on input from scientists and the public. The Guide incorporates recent research on commonly used species, including farm animals, and includes extensive references. It is organized around major components of animal use:

  • Institutional policies and responsibilities. The committee discusses areas that require policy attention: the role and function of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, protocols for animal care and use, occupational health and safety, personnel qualifications, and other areas.
  • Animal environment, husbandry, and management. The committee offers guidelines on how to design and run a management program, addressing environment, nutrition, sanitation, behavioral and social issues, genetics, nomenclature, and more.
  • Veterinary care. The committee discusses animal procurement and transportation, disease and preventive medicine, and surgery. The Guide addresses pain recognition and relief and issues surrounding euthanasia.
  • Physical plant. The committee identifies design and construction issues, providing guidelines for animal-room doors, drainage, noise control, surgery, and other areas.

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals provides a framework for the judgments required in the management of animal facilities—a resource of proven value, now updated and expanded. This revision will be important to researchers, animal care technicians, facilities managers, administrators at research institutions, policymakers involved in research issues, and animal welfare advocates.

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