Background

This guideline describes industry standards for acclimation for laboratory animals.

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide, NRC 2011) states: "newly received animals should be given a period for physiologic, behavioral, and nutritional acclimation before their use." (p. 111) The length of time for this acclimation period will depend on multiple factors. External factors will affect the stabilization period, for example, the duration/distance the animal traveled to reach the facility and the weather/travel conditions. The species is an important consideration, as smaller animals with higher metabolic rates may be more greatly impacted than larger species. Finally, the intended use of animals must be considered. For example, blood pressure, hydration, blood parameters, stress, and behavior status may be abnormal which may affect research data.

Definitions

Acclimation period: The minimum period of time in which animals may not undergo procedures, to allow for behavioral and physiological adjustment to a new environment.

• This period starts once animals arrive and are housed on Wayne State University's (WSU) campus and does not apply to intra-university transportation of animals or transportation between Henry Ford Health System and WSU or the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and WSU.

IACUC Recommendations

The following are the minimum IACUC-required acclimation periods based on species and procedure. If shorter acclimation periods are needed for study purposes, they must be scientifically justified and approved in the protocol.

Approved: December 2012

Revision Approved: October 2017, October 2023

Reviewed: April 2020