BACKGROUND

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, NRC 2011) states: "Animals should be housed in facilities dedicated to or assigned for that purpose, not in laboratories merely for convenience. If animals must be maintained in a laboratory to satisfy the scientific aims of a protocol, that space should be appropriate to house and care for the animals and its use limited to the period during which it is required. If needed, measures should be taken to minimize occupational hazards related to exposure to animals both in the research area and during transport to and from the area." (p. 134). Additionally, the institution must provide the Attending Veterinarian with access to all animals. (p. 14)

Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals defines Animal Facility as:

Any and all buildings, rooms, areas, enclosures, or vehicles, including satellite facilities, used for animal confinement, transport, maintenance, breeding, or experiments inclusive of surgical manipulation. A satellite facility is any containment outside of a core facility or centrally designated or managed area in which non-USDA regulated animals are housed for more than 24 hours or USDA-regulated animals are held for more than 12 hours.

IACUC Policy

1. Research animals must be housed within the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) facilities. Animals may be taken to the researcher laboratory for up to 12 hours but then must return to the DLAR facility.
2. If experimental manipulations require overnight housing in a laboratory, it must be justified and approved in the IACUC protocol application or via amendment. Approval for overnight housing is generally limited to rats, mice, frogs, and fish.
3. If animals are housed more than 24 hours for non-USDA regulated species (or 12 hours for USDA regulated species) in a laboratory, this laboratory is designated as a satellite animal housing facility and must comply with all pertinent regulations as if it was a DLAR facility.

a. The proposed laboratory housing space must be inspected by a DLAR veterinarian and a representative of the IACUC.

b. For mice and rats, a "Rodent Husbandry Checklist" (and accompanied by the Standard Operating Procedures for the specific species) must be completed by the Principal Investigator (PI) and signed by a DLAR veterinarian. For aquatic species (e.g., fish, frogs), an "Aquatic Husbandry Checklist" (and accompanied by Standard Operating Procedures for the specific speices) must be completed by the PI and signed by a DLAR veterinarian.

c. The proposed laboratory housing space must be appropriate with regard to all applicable requirements, including: temperature, humidity, light cycle, air exchanges, pathogen control, security, and employee safety. Additionally, an appropriate sanitization program must be established for the housing space. Occupied cages may not be stacked on top of one another or kept on the floor.

d. Personnel performing the daily care and monitoring of animals in PI-managed housing areas must be on the approved protocol. These individuals are responsible for the completion of the log and census sheets and must be trained and proficient in species specific handling and assessment.

e. A thermometer/hygrometer capable of recording minimum and maximum values must be used and checked daily. After the values are recorded the thermometer/hygrometer should be reset to ensure accurate values are being reported daily. If the temperature or humidity falls outside of the temperatures recommended in the Guide, it is the laboratory's responsibility to report the problem to WSU FP&M. Additionally, the DLAR leader, the PI and a DLAR veterinarian must be notified immediately about the temperature excursion. If satisfactroy corrective action is not obtained, contact DLAR for assistance.

f. The temperature in the room must be monitored 24 hours a day to detect life-threatening heat accumulation or loss resulting from mechanical failure. The system must be equipped with a remote alarm monitor to notify personnel when a temperature extreme is detected, and a procedure must be in place to immediately address the situation and protect the animals.

g. The laboratory should be kept at a negative pressure to the corridor. This should be checked daily, and it is the laboratory's responsibility to report problems to WSU FP&M. Ventilation should be maintained at 10-15 air changes per hour. HVAC systems must be verified at least once every 3 years.

h. A light timer must be used to provide the appropriate light cycle (12 hrs. on, 12 hrs. off is the typical setting). Light levels should be between 130 and 325 lux.

i. Noise and vibration in the laboratory and adjacent areas should be kept to a minimum.

j. Cage changes must be done using an N-95 mask, a cage changing station or a biosafety cabinet.

4. Animals must be checked daily, including holidays and weekends. Ill animals should be reported immediately to DLAR staff. A DLAR veterinarian must be notified any time an animal unexpectedly dies.
5.  DLAR or laboratory personnel may provide daily animal care for the animals while they are housed in the laboratory. If laboratory personnel provide the care, they must be trained by DLAR and use the applicable DLAR Standard Operating Procedures or other procedures that ensure regulatory standards are met.
6.  Documentation of animal care activities, a log of temperature and humidity, and a census sheet must be maintained by laboratory personnel, and the documents must be clearly posted or readily available upon request. Documents must be submitted to the DLAR Leader of the facility of origin or Business Office each month, by email, fax, or campus mail.

a. Room logs and census sheets must be completed daily by laboratory personnel whenever animals are housed in the space. Documents must be submitted to the DLAR Leader of the facility of origin or Business Office each month, by email, fax, or campus mail. Copies of all logs must be kept by the lab for three years past the expiration of the IACUC protocol.

b. Room logs must be completed on the day that activities and observations are made and include the following: minimum and maximum temperatures for the prior 24 hours, minimum and maximum humidity for the prior 24 hours, cage change activities (if performed), health checks, food/water checks. Additional room maintenance including sanitation activities must be recorded when they are performed. All entries must be initialed by the lab member completing the activities.

c. For rats and mice, a census sheet needs to be completed and submitted to DLAR each month as full per diem rates apply. A "Daily Room Chart" and "DLAR Census Sheet" can be found on the IACUC website.

d. For aquatic species, the number of animals used in experiments must be submitted to DLAR annually. However, accurate records must be assessable so that they can be reviewed at any time by the DLAR, IACUC or Research Compliance Specialist. Fish users must manage their colonies to ensure that the number of animals used/bred does not exceed the number approved by the IACUC. If necessary, amendments to increase animal numbers must be submitted.

7.  Information must be posted in the animal housing area to reflect contact information for the principal investigator, DLAR veterinarian, and any other support personnel that may need to be contacted in case of an emergency.
8. Animals housed outside of the DLAR vivarium for more than one week must be visited by DLAR personnel at least once weekly. DLAR staff will perform record review and ensure animals are being housed appropriately.
9. All animals must be accounted for in the institution's disaster contingency plan. Laboratory staff must have a disaster plan or must participate in the DLAR disaster plan. Regardless, emergency access must be provided to DLAR to provide emergency care or verify that animals have been taken care of in the event of an emergency such as a building evacuation (for example, in the event of a building system malfunction). A key to the satellite room must be provided to a DLAR veterinarian upon approval of the satellite housing request.
10. All laboratories housing animals will be checked regularly by DLAR staff, IACUC inspectors, and/or Research Compliance staff.
11. The IACUC may revoke permission for laboratory housing if the facility becomes unsuitable for continued housing of animals for any reason. Such reasons may include changes in regulations, non-compliance by research staff (including failure to complete the room log or census sheets), deteriorating facilities, protocol termination, or if rationale is no longer valid.
12.  Any changes to the rationale for housing in a laboratory must be approved by the IACUC before implementation.

Approved: December 2012

Revisions Approved: 5/2016, 2/2017, 12/2017, 5/2022, 10/2022, 2/2024