AAALAC International Site Visit at Emory University

by Dr. Mike Huerkamp, Director of DAR

The AAALAC International site visit of the animal care and use program at Emory University will be conducted by a 4-person team of peers on January 31 through February 2, 2017. While much of the focus will be on DAR and IACUC, laboratories will be site visited, particularly those where surgery and other experimental procedures are done on animals or where animals are held. It is important for personnel to be on hand to interact with the site visitors and not be absent.

AAALAC International was founded in 1966 as a private organization providing peer review of research programs using animal models. Emory University has been continuously accredited by AAALAC dating to 1992. The value of accreditation is in providing assurance both internally, to investigators and the administration, as well as externally, to the public and funding sources, that Emory meets the highest standards of the care and scientific use of animals.

• Personnel should comply fully with the protocol approved by the IACUC and have specific knowledge of any and all procedures associated with each protocol such as any euthanasia method, aseptic surgery practices, and postoperative administration of pain-relieving drugs.
• Post-operative and other records required by the IACUC should be available upon request for review by the site visitors.
• The expiration dates of drugs, fluids, sutures and other consumable materials that may be given to animals should be routinely monitored. All expired items should be discarded or labeled as “not for use in animals”.
• All items in the laboratory, such as fluids dispensed from their original container, should be clearly labeled as to contents and, where applicable, with an expiration date.
• All controlled drugs, should be kept in a locked container meeting requirements for controlled drug storage and supported by accurate records of usage.
• Isoflurane gas anesthetic vaporizer maintenance and calibration must comply with IACUC policy. To review this policy, go to the IACUC web site at http:// www.iacuc.emory.edu, select the “Policies” tab and then choose “Gas Anesthesia Vaporizer Maintenance”.
• If using CO2 inhalation for euthanasia, the system must include a flowmeter and have a posted SOP providing instruction in the use of the method and equipment.
• Any food or treats for the animals that are kept in the laboratory should be stored in a closed container with a tight-fitting lid labeled with the contents and expiration date.
• Know how to access Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each chemical and drug used or kept in the lab via: https://msdsmanagement.msdsonline.com/dashboard/.
• Remember that you were sent the annual reminder to update your occupational health information by IACUC (Dr. Iten) on November 1, 2016.
• All personnel should know how to document an injury or exposure, whether trivial or non-trivial, via the PeopleSoft system. Log onto the “PeopleSoft: HR” site using your Emory network ID and password, select the “Self Service” folder and then choose “Accident/Injury Entry”.
• Areas where animals are used should be kept clean and uncluttered, such as for rodent surgery.
• Animals should not be housed or kept in laboratories (or outside of the animal research facility) without the knowledge and consent of the IACUC.

If you have any questions, please call 7-3248 and ask to speak with the veterinarian responsible for your building or send an email to darcust@emory.edu.