V. Animal Facilities, Policies, And Procedures
Security / Public Relations / Physical Plant Problems / Animal Care Concerns / Room Assignments / Equipment Storage / Animal Caging / Animal Diets / Water / Witholding Food and Water / Bedding / Sanitation / Environmental Control / Haz Mats / Disposal / Vermin Control / Weekends and Holidays / Animal Shipping / Animal Identification / Sharing of Animal Tissues / Nomenclature / Assistance and Training

A. Security and Access to Animal Quarters

Access to animal facilities is restricted for a number of reasons. Animals are always attractive to the idle curious. Unauthorized visitors may endanger themselves and the integrity of research projects. In today's environment of animal rights activists, animal researchers must also be concerned with willful acts of vandalism and attempts to disrupt research.

The effectiveness of any security system is only as good as the cooperation of the users of the facility. Animal facilities and animal rooms are kept locked at all times. It is extremely important that all personnel do their part in closing and locking doors when they work in animal facilities. Failure to follow prescribed procedures may result in the loss of animal facility privileges.

1. Obtaining Keys

Investigators should contact their LAS Campus Manager to obtain keys for their assigned space. If you need access to an animal room after hours, be sure that you obtain the necessary keys for exterior building doors and animal facility hallway doors.

2. Visitors

Use of and access to the laboratory animal facilities at the University is restricted to those University personnel and their official guests who are participating in animal research and teaching activities. Research personnel can protect the integrity of other investigators' work by not entering areas other than those assigned to them. Unauthorized entry into animal research facilities may alter experimental outcome (e.g. by disrupting light cycles), jeopardize animal health, or expose personnel to infectious or chemical hazards.

3. Children and Pets

CHILDREN AND PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN ANIMAL FACILITIES

B. Public Relations and Animal Research

Much attention has been focused recently on the activities of animal rights activists. These groups have been extremely effective at using the media to sway public opinion against animal research. The activists have employed a wide variety of tactics including vandalism, arson, public protests and lawsuits.

In the event of animal rights activity at Rutgers, University administrators are prepared to respond effectively to public inquiries, protests, threats or illegal acts. To that end, a communications plan has been developed for such situations.

1. Animal Rights Activity Defined

The communication plan is designed to deal with the following types of animal rights activities:

• A break-in of an animal research facility or of the office or laboratories of a researcher who works with animals.
• A personal attack on faculty, researchers, staff or students because of their involvement in or support of animal research.
• A protest or demonstration directed at the University's animal research or policies.

2. Initiating the Laboratory Animal Crisis Communication Plan

The University employee who initially identifies a crisis situation should contact Dr. Andrew Rudczynski, Associate Vice President for Research Policy and Administration, who will then determine if the plan should be put into action. If Dr. Rudczynski is unavailable, contact Arlethia Perry (Director of Media and Community Relations, 932-7315) or Ruth Scott (Director, Rutgers News Service, 932-7084). After normal working hours, these persons can be contacted by calling the University Police on your campus.

Faculty and staff are discouraged from dealing directly with members of the public or press in the event of an animal rights crisis.

C. Reporting Physical Plant Problems

1. Normal Work Hours

Physical plant problems in animal facilities should be reported immediately to LAS during normal work hours. Call your LAS Campus Manager or the main LAS office. LAS will notify the appropriate University personnel to deal with the problem and will take necessary steps to protect animal health and research projects. LAS will monitor the problem until it has been resolved. If the problem may have an adverse effect on animal health or research integrity, LAS will contact investigators whose animals are affected.

When reporting a problem, please be prepared to provide the following information:

• The location of the problem (Building, room)
• Your name, and a phone number where you can be reached until resolution of the problem
• The nature of the problem
• Your assessment of the seriousness of the problem, specifically with respect to potential adverse effects on your research. (Any problem with heat or ventilation is reported to Facilities Maintenance as an animal research facility emergency and is handled by them as a high priority call, second in priority only to human health and safety problems.)

Investigators are encouraged to notify LAS and to let LAS notify Facilities Maintenance. If for any reason you contact Facilities Maintenance first, you should ask for a Reference Number. Then call LAS and be prepared to give this number to LAS when you call.

2. Evenings, Weekends, Holidays

After normal working hours, the Facilities Maintenance Shift Engineer can be contacted by calling the Rutgers Police.  Shift Engineers are on duty 24 hours every day. Shift Engineers have instructions to contact LAS after hours if a physical plant problem involves animal facilities.

Any problem which results in loss of heating, cooling or ventilation in an animal facility is always an EMERGENCY and should be reported as such. This is especially important when contacting Facilities Maintenance through the University Police.

D. Reporting Concerns Regarding Animal Care and Treatment

Rutgers is committed to the humane care and use of all animals used for teaching and research at the University. If you observe or have knowledge of activities which you believe constitute inappropriate animal care or use, you are encouraged to report such activities. Inappropriate care and use may include inhumane treatment, neglect, unapproved procedures, etc. The Rutgers Animal Care and Facilities Committee is required by the federal Animal Welfare Act to deal with all such reports in a confidential manner and to investigate them fully. The Act further stipulates that "No facility employee, Committee member, or laboratory personnel shall be subject to any reprisal for reporting violations of any regulation or standards under the Act."

If you believe an activity is inappropriate, the most direct way to deal with the problem is to speak to the people involved (supervisor, principal investigator, technician, etc.). Persons not familiar with animal research may misinterpret some procedures as causing pain or distress, when in fact that is not the case. If for any reason you do not wish to speak to the people involved with the activity, it is still appropriate to pursue the question within the University.

Concerns about animal care and use may be directed to any of the following persons:

• Laboratory Animal Services Director, Supervisors,
• Campus Managers
• Animal Care and Facilities Committee (contact any member).
• Associate Vice President for Research policy and Administration

E. Room Assignments

1. Space Assignments

Authority for space assignment in animal facilities rests with academic units on each campus and LAS Campus Managers. This authority may be delegated to faculty committees on each campus. While Laboratory Animal Services will assist in locating suitable available space, the Director does not make space assignments.

Requests for space assignment should be made to the chair of your department.

2. Housing of Animals in Laboratories

It is often necessary to transport animals from animal facilities to research laboratories for experimental purposes. Animals not euthanized must be returned to the animal facility at the end of the day. Animals are not to be housed in offices or laboratories overnight without permission from the Director of Laboratory Animal Services. Such permission will only be granted when a request is justified in writing as part of the protocol review process.

Reasons for this policy are several. Animal facilities are designed and maintained to be readily cleaned and disinfected. Laboratories on the other hand are often full of furniture, equipment and supplies and are not readily sanitized. Temperature and ventilation in animal facilities are controlled on a 24 hour basis, including weekends and holidays. Environmental problems are dealt with on an emergency basis. Conditions in laboratories may vary considerably during off hours, especially if animals are kept near windows. The University has an obligation as an institution to monitor the care and use of all animals at the University. Regulatory agencies require that LAS know of and have access to all areas where animals are maintained.

3. Separation of Animals by Species

It is LAS policy to provide separation of species except in special circumstances. Physical separation may be achieved by housing one species per room, or by using other means such as laminar flow cabinets, ventilated racks, isolation cubicles, flexible film isolators or microisolation cages.

F. Equipment Storage

In line with accepted animal facility management practices and as a matter of LAS policy, only essential animal care equipment which is in use should be kept in animal rooms. As most animal facilities have limited storage space, equipment not in regular use is best stored elsewhere.

Laboratory Animal Services has remote storage facilities available for storage of animal care equipment that is not currently in use. Equipment is accepted for storage at the discretion of the Director, with preference given to general purpose animal housing in good condition. Specialized research equipment and equipment that is old or in poor condition will not be stored. There is no charge for transportation or storage of equipment.

Requests for equipment storage should be directed to the LAS Campus Manager for your campus.

G. Animal Caging and Equipment

1. General Guidelines for Animal Caging

The caging or housing system is one of the most important elements in the physical and social environment of research animals. It should be designed carefully to facilitate animal well-being, meet research requirements, and minimize experimental variables. Rutgers follows the Animal Environment, Housing, and Management standards set forth in the Guide. The housing system should:

• provide space that is adequate, permits freedom of movement and normal postural adjustments, and has a resting place appropriate to the species.
• provide a comfortable environment.
• provide an escape-proof enclosure that confines animals safely.
• provide easy access to food and water.
• provide adequate ventilation.
• meet the biological needs of the animals, e.g., maintenance of body temperature, urination, defecation, and, if appropriate, reproduction.
• keep the animals dry and clean, consistent with species requirements.
• avoid unnecessary physical restraint, and
• protect the animals from known hazards.

Caging systems should facilitate research while maintaining good health of the animals. They should be constructed of sturdy, durable materials and designed to minimize cross-infection between adjoining units. To simplify servicing and sanitation, cages should have smooth, impervious surfaces that neither attract nor retain dirt and a minimum of ledges, angles, and corners in which dirt or water can accumulate. The design should allow inspection of cage occupants without disturbing them. Feeding and watering devices should be easily accessible for filling, changing, cleaning and servicing.

Cages, runs and pens must be kept in good repair to prevent injury to animals, promote physical comfort, and facilitate sanitation and servicing. Particular attention must be given to eliminating sharp edges and broken wires, keeping cage floors in good condition, and refurbishing or replacing rusted or other deteriorating equipment.

2. Space Requirements

Minimum space recommendations for laboratory animals, as prescribed in the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, are listed in the NIH Guide, Chapter 2. These minimum space requirements must be provided for all animals unless exceptions are granted, for experimental purposes, by the ACFC. Investigators must explain the need to provide less than the recommended space, in writing, when they submit a Protocol Form.

3. Provision of Caging at Rutgers

Provision of suitable animal caging is the responsibility of investigators or their departments. Per diem charges, at this time, do not provide for the purchase or replacement of animal caging. Laboratory Animal Services has a limited amount of caging that can be provided on request, as it is available. Animal housing must meet requirements of the Guide and the Animal Welfare Act with respect to size, ability to be sanitized, etc. Adequate extra caging and accessory equipment of compatible design must be available for cage changing and cleaning. As a rule, caging and accessories equal to 25% of that in use must be available for changing and cleaning.

4. Specialized Animal Housing and Research Apparatus

Investigators may find it necessary or desirable to make or have made specialized housing systems or test apparatus. Whether such equipment is used as an animal's "home cage" or is used intermittently for testing one or more animals, such equipment must meet all of the above guidelines for animal housing. Test apparatus used for more than one animal can serve to spread disease, and should be able to be cleaned and disinfected.

Investigators are encouraged to consult with LAS when designing specialized equipment, before it is made. Here are some suggestions for the design of specialized animal housing and test equipment:

• Non-porous materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, glass and plastic are more readily sanitized than wood. Even when painted, wood is difficult to sanitize.
• Whenever possible, use commercially available animal cages for the primary enclosure of the apparatus. These are designed with rounded corners to facilitate cleaning and smooth edges to resist chewing.
• Use a modular design, so that the cage portion can be changed and cleaned separately from sensitive mechanical and electronic components.
• Use standard animal racks on casters to provide support for apparatus. Fixed shelving and office furniture are difficult to sanitize.
• As with standard caging, plan for extra "cage" components so that they may be rotated for cleaning.

Test apparatus must meet NIH and USDA space requirements when animals "live" in the apparatus. Exceptions must be approved by the ACFC as part of an experimental protocol.

5. Equipment

LAS maintains an array of equipment for the investigator. If you have special needs, please contact your campus manager or the Director.

6. Requests for Special Housing/Husbandry

Requests for special housing or husbandry procedures are made by submitting a Request to Order Animals form to the LAS campus manager in the usual manner. If a request involves a species new to the facility or campus, a dedicated animal room, exceptions to NIH standards, special caging or environmental controls, or other such changes, the request should be made far enough in advance to complete any necessary changes. If a request involves a new or amended protocol, it must await ACFC review and approval. If new equipment is required, it must be funded, ordered, manufactured, delivered and installed.

Animals cannot be ordered until facilities, equipment and personnel necessary for their care are available.

Laboratory Animal Services provides a variety of standard animal diets as part of the services covered by the per-diem rate for each species. Laboratory Animal Services can obtain alternative diets on request, but investigators may be asked to purchase specialized diets. Laboratory Animal Services may add a surcharge onto per-diem rates for special diets or may discount per-diem rates when investigators provide their own diet.

I. Water

Ordinarily, animals should have continuous access to fresh, potable, uncontaminated drinking water, according to their particular requirements. LAS uses municipal tap water without further treatment in most animal facilities. Investigators requiring special water treatment should contact LAS to make special arrangements. LAS receives regular water quality reports from municipal water suppliers.

Water is provided to animals in water bottles, with automatic watering systems and sometimes in bowls or open dishes.

J. Withholding of Food and Water

There are many reasons for temporary witholding of food and/or water from experimental animals, or for requesting that LAS not feed standard diets. Examples include fasting prior to surgery, feeding special diets or administering drugs in the diet, and increasing motivation to perform for a food reward.  Language in the revised Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996) requires careful monitoring of animals that are on 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 . 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--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 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."

The following are the minimum requirements for all Rutgers protocols that use food or fluid restriction.

• All protocols that require the use of food or fluid restriction must be specifically justified. In most cases this has already been accomplished. If justification has not been given previously, please provide justification with your next animal protocol review. The animal use protocol should include a description of procedures to be used to monitor animals on food or water restriction.
• All animals on food or fluid restriction should be weighed at least once every seven days. Rodents should be weighed more frequently. As long as the information is easily retrievable it may be kept as part of the regular research records.
• Animals on fluid restriction should be monitored for daily intake and assessed for dehydration by an experienced observer. Daily intake and state of hydration should be recorded and made available for review.
• You should establish (in written form) criteria for the temporary or permanent removal of an animal from the experimental protocol. These criteria should be available in the laboratory for review and should be made a part of your protocol during the next animal protocol review.

Unintentional starvation or dehydration may occur if "no food" signs, which are to be place on the animal's enclosure, are not removed on schedule. To prevent this, LAS requires that any "no food" or "no water" signs include the following information:

• Date withholding started.
• Date withholding to end.
• Name and phone of contact person.

LAS provides special cage-card signs for this purpose (see LAS Internal Forms). LAS personnel are trained to recognize these cards. Investigators may use their own signs but they must include the above information.

K. Bedding

Animal bedding may be contact bedding (for solid bottom cages) or non-contact bedding (for suspended wire cages). Bedding should be absorbent, free of dust and toxic chemicals or substances that could injure animals or personnel, and of a type not readily eaten by animals. Bedding must be manufactured, shipped and stored in a manner that protects it from contamination with chemicals or vermin. Aromatic hydrocarbons (the stuff that smells good) from cedar or pine bedding materials can induce the biosynthesis of hepatic microsomal enzymes, significantly altering hepatic metabolism of drugs, and so these materials should not be used unless it is determined that this will not adversely affect a research project. Newspapers are not to be used as bedding material because they are dirty to handle, may introduce vermin such as roaches into animal facilities, contain unknown chemicals and may have been contaminated in storage. Bedding is always stored off the floor on pallets, racks or carts. All open bags are placed in closed containers. Standard bedding products provided by LAS are listed in Standard Bedding Appendix.

L. Sanitation

Sanitation is essential in an animal facility to minimize the accumulation of dust, debris and harmful contaminants. Experience tells that even the most secure barrier facilities are subject to introduction of infectious agents, and when this occurs, sanitation procedures are critical to minimizing the spread of infection, especially before it is detected.

Animal rooms, corridors, storage spaces, and other areas are cleaned with appropriate detergents and disinfectants as often as is necessary to keep them clean. Because this must be done so frequently, animal rooms are designed with a minimum of built in cabinets, shelves, furniture and other fixtures. Only equipment essential to daily activities should be kept in animal rooms, and all equipment should be easily movable.

1. Standard Sanitation Scheduals

Standard sanitation procedures used by LAS follow generally accepted schedules as set forth in the NIH Guide and the Animal Welfare Act regulations.

Bedding used in cages or pens is changed as often as necessary to keep animals dry and clean. For routine maintenance of small rodents such as rats and mice, bedding is changed one to three times per week. Whenever possible, litter is emptied from cages or pans in an area other than in the animal rooms and in a manner that minimizes exposure of animal and personnel to aerosolized waste.

Cages are sanitized before animals are placed in them. Animal cages, racks and accessory equipment, such as feeders and watering devices, are washed and sanitized frequently to keep them clean and free from contamination. Solid-bottom rodent cages and accessories are ordinarily washed once or twice a week; cage racks at least monthly. Wire-bottom rodent cages and cages for other animals are washed at least every 2 weeks. Such a schedule requires that extra cages and racks be available for rotation, and that storage space be available for the extra cages. Wherever possible, cages are disinfected by using mechanical cagewashers and assuring a rinse water temperature of 82.2°C (180°F) or higher for a period long enough to ensure destruction of vegetative pathogenic organisms.

Waste containers and cleaning implements are cleaned regularly. If investigators must keep research equipment in an animal room, it must be kept clean.

2. Exceptions to Standard Sanitation Scheduals

In some instances, frequent cage changing is counterproductive, as when pheromones are essential for reproduction or to achieve certain research objectives. Less frequent changing of bedding or cleaning of cages, or other deviations from standard sanitation schedules are permissible if reviewed and approved by the ACFC as part of the protocol review process.

Any deviation from standard sanitation practices must be explained in writing in the "Animal Use Protocol Review Form".

3. Cleaning Agents Used

Cleaning products used in animal facilities are carefully selected for each cleaning procedure. Cagewashing detergents and disinfectants are tailored to the cagewasher design (e.g. some cagewashers cannot use acid cleaners), the cage material being cleaned, and the animal species (e.g. rabbit urine leaves a heavy mineral scale). Odor control is achieved by adequate ventilation, frequent cleaning, and adequate disinfection. Deodorizers or chemical agents are not used to mask odors. Almost all commercial cleaning products designed for hospitals, commercial kitchens, and use in the home contain deodorizers (essential oils, "the stuff that smells good"), which, just like aromatic hydrocarbons in softwood bedding material, can induce hepatic microsomal enzymes. LAS uses only products designed for use in animal facilities which are manufactured without deodorizers.

Note: Rutgers housekeeping services routinely use products with deodorizers. Such products may adversely affect animals when housed in laboratories.

In order to prevent unwanted effects on research animals, only cleaning products provided by LAS should be used in animal facilities. Household cleaning products used in laboratories or offices should not be brought into animal facilities.

M. Environmental Control and Monitoring

1. Temperature and Humidity

Temperature and humidity control is essential to animal well-being and the integrity of research projects. While animals in the wild can adapt to extremes of temperature and humidity, research animals may not survive sudden changes in temperature. More importantly, the animal facility environment should be controlled to minimize experimental variability and to allow the researcher to define the parameters of the experiment.

Almost all of the laboratory animal facilities at Rutgers are air-conditioned and heated, but the ability to maintain constant temperatures during extreme weather conditions varies from facility to facility. Some facilities have emergency back-up power, and there are varying degrees of redundancy built in to the environmental systems.

Humidity control is not provided in all facilities.

In planning animal studies, investigators should consult with LAS to ensure that the animal facility can provide the level of environmental control required for the research project.

2. Ventilation

The purpose of ventilation is to supply adequate oxygen; remove the thermal loads of animal respiration, lights and equipment; dilute gaseous and particulate contaminants; and to control air directionality within the facility. The quality of an animal's environment is determined by the effectiveness of the ventilation system in maintaining acceptable conditions within the primary enclosure (the "cage").

Animal rooms are generally designed to provide 10 to 15 room air changes per hour. This has been shown by experience to be adequate for most species when a room is used at full capacity. Most animal facilities at Rutgers provide 10-15 air changes of 100% fresh air which is not recirculated. Animal facility air-handling systems are generally separate from those in "people" areas.

The relative air pressure between animal rooms, animal facility hallways, and "people areas" adjacent to animal facilities is controlled by carefully balancing the air supply and exhaust in each room. The relative air pressure in turn determines the directionality of air flow between spaces. Within animal facilities air directionality is essential to control the spread of odors, infectious agents and hazardous substances. By keeping animal facilities negative with respect to adjacent areas, people outside animal facilities are protected from objectionable (to them) animal odors and allergens.

Keeping animal room and laboratory doors closed is essential to maintenance of proper ventilation and air flow. Please close animal facility doors when working in the facility and upon leaving the facility.

3. Lighting

Most animal housing rooms are equipped with fluorescent light fixtures and light timers.

a) Light cycles

Light cycles can be an important aspect of many experimental protocols. The day/night or on/off cycles should be defined, known and should not be altered unintentionally. The standard light cycle used by LAS is lights on at 7:00 am and off at 7:00 PM local time. Time clocks are reset following power failures and are reset for daylight savings time unless an investigator requests that timers not be reset during an experiment. Alternate light schedules can be arranged by contacting the LAS Campus Manager.

The light cycle for each room is posted on the door of each animal room.

b) Operation of Time Clocks

The make and model of light timers varies from building to building at the University.

Investigators and research staff should never use the light timer clock mechanism to turn room lights on or off.

Many clocks have a switch that enables an operator to override the automatic mechanism temporarily. This switch should be used if it is necessary to temporarily override the light timer. When an animal room is being shared by more than one investigator, white lights should not be turned on during the dark cycle. In newer facilities, timers have been wired such that timer function cannot be overridden inadvertently.

c) Bi-level lighting

Light levels that are considered normal for human activity may be so bright as to cause retinal damage in albino rodents, particularly those housed on upper-level shelves on long-term studies. To avoid this, some rooms are equipped with bi-level lighting. Low-level lighting is provided routinely and is controlled by light timers. High-level lighting, controlled manually, is available for animal observation and animal husbandry.

LAS can measure light intensity in animal rooms under specific housing conditions. Contact your LAS Campus Manager if you need information on light levels in a specific animal room.

d) Red lights

Red light is not perceived by many species and so can be used to allow working in rooms after white lights are off. Many rooms are equipped with red lights for this purpose. The use of extension cords and portable lamps in animal facilities is not recommended and must be approved by LAS.

4. Monitoring the Animal Facility Environment

All animal rooms are checked daily by LAS for proper functioning of the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Maximum-minimum thermometers are kept in every animal room and temperature extremes are recorded. Humidity is not recorded routinely. Exhaust register filters are changed routinely. Problems are reported immediately to Facilities Maintenance.

Facilities Maintenance personnel monitor building-wide HVAC systems on a 24 hour basis. Individual animal rooms are not usually monitored or alarmed on a continual basis, so that an environmental problem may go undetected overnight. Investigators with especially critical needs for environmental controls should consult with LAS to assure that they get best facilities available.

N. Hazardous Materials

The introduction of hazardous materials or agents into animal facilities requires approval by the Director of LAS. Special problems arise from the use of hazardous substances in animal facilities and when hazardous substances are administered to live animals. Working with the principal investigator and University health and safety officials, the Director of LAS will establish procedures that allow the hazardous substance to be used safely within the animal facility environment.

A. Why Hazardous Substance Use is More Complex in Animal Facilities

• In a laboratory, the principal investigator has responsibility for the safe handling of hazardous substances by lab personnel in that lab, and access to the lab by other persons, for example custodial staff, is limited. In an animal facility, personnel not reporting to the principal investigator and animals on other studies must not unknowingly be exposed to hazardous substances.
• Hazardous substances must be transported to and from the animal facility in a safe manner. Provisions must be made for proper spill cleanup anywhere the material is used.
• Live, conscious animals may resist dosing, even when it is done in a painless, humane manner. Animal dosing may result in spills, aerosolization, or self-injection.
• Any and all safety procedures and safety equipment (hoods, gloves, eye protection, eye wash stations, safety showers, etc.) required in a laboratory must be available in the animal facility. Not all animal facilities can provide the required safety environment.
• Containment of hazardous materials is made much more difficult when animals are dosed. An injected chemical, or its hazardous metabolites, may be excreted in the urine, feces, or breath of the animal. Bedding, food, water, cages, and animal carcasses may require special handling for disposal. The animal room and all equipment must be able to be decontaminated. Procedures must prevent the spread of the hazardous material out of the animal room and out of the animal facility.
• Work with a hazardous material by one investigator must not interfere with the research of others. Beyond the health of other animals in the facility, the animals must be protected from short-term or low-level exposure that may affect experimental outcome.
• Animal facility work areas are often shared by more than one investigator. The work area must be thoroughly cleaned, decontaminated, and/or disinfected after each use so that others who share the work space are not endangered.
• LAS must provide its staff, by law and in a timely manner, information on any hazardous substance in their workplace. In order to do this, we must have the appropriate information available before work with the hazardous substance begins.

The review of hazardous substance use is an integral part of the ACFC "protocol review" process. Projects utilizing hazardous substances will not be approved until the use of hazardous substances is approved by the Director of LAS.

O. Disposal

1. Animal Tissue

Dead animals and animal tissues should be placed in designated refrigerators or freezers which are available to investigators in each animal facility. Animals and animal tissues should not be discarded in waste-baskets in laboratories or offices. Animals which die unexpectedly of unknown causes, and animals euthanized because of disease of unknown etiology, should be placed in refrigerators for possible necropsy by the LAS veterinary staff.

2. Biomedical Waste

Carcasses or tissues of animals treated with hazardous substances, isotopes, or experimentally exposed to infectious agents legal constitute "medical waste", and should not be placed in LAS's dead animal refrigerators or freezers. Investigators should make arrangements with REHS for disposal of carcasses and tissues used in infectious disease studies. LAS can provide assistance in making these arrangements.

P. Vermin Control

1. The Need For Vermin Control in Animal Facilities

Vermin control in animal facilities is directed primarily at control of cockroaches and rodents, both wild and escaped laboratory rodents.

Aside from obvious aesthetic problems, cockroaches can serve as mechanical or biologic vectors for several animal diseases. They can also damage sensitive scientific equipment.

Rodents cause extensive building damage, including chewing of electrical wires. Animals that die behind walls create odors and a source of food for other pests. Most importantly, however, wild and feral rodents carry infectious diseases that can be transmitted to research animals.

2. Control of Cockroaches and other Insects in Animal Facilities

The insect control program for animal facilities at Rutgers is provided by a private exterminating contractor. Methods used are specific for animal facilities. In general, insecticides are not used in animal facilities because they could alter experimental findings. If insecticides such as organophosphates or carbamates are required, investigators will be notified.

Because insecticides are not used in animal facilities, facility design, housekeeping and sanitation are important components of the vermin control program. Good facility design, as recommended in the Guide, calls for walls, ceilings and floors to be smooth, and sanitizable and for all joints to be sealed. Holes where pipes, wires, ductwork, etc. pass through walls and ceilings should be sealed, even when not visible. Animal rooms are more effectively sanitized when only essential equipment is kept in rooms, and when all equipment is easily movable. Open bags of feed should be stored in vermin proof containers raised off the ground. Food and bedding are obtained from vendors who follow similar procedures in their warehouses. Newspapers are not used for bedding because they could be a source of roaches.

As difficult as it is to maintain these conditions in animal facilities, they are almost never met in laboratories. For this reason, housing of animals in laboratories is not permitted.

The effectiveness of the insect control program is monitored by use of "sticky traps". These are not used for control but as a monitoring device. Please do not disturb monitoring traps placed in the animal facility. Insect problems should be brought to the attention of the Laboratory Animal Services Campus Manager. Under no circumstances should investigators take it upon themselves to use any insecticide in animal facilities.

3. Control of Wild and Feral Rodents in Animal Facilities

The rodent control program in animal facilities is provided by LAS and a private exterminating contractor. Emphasis is placed on preventive measures. Wild rodents are excluded by facility design features as described above for roaches. Doorsweeps are used to prevent movement from room to room. Food storage and sanitation procedures are designed to deprive free-ranging rodents of food. Every attempt should be made to capture research rodents that escape.

The effectiveness of the rodent control program is monitored by placing traps in key places. No poisons or chemicals are used that could affect the health of research animals or alter experimental data. Problems with rodent pests should be brought to the attention of your Laboratory Animal Services Campus Manager.

Q. Weekend and Holiday Care

Federal guidelines and University policy require that all animals be observed daily, including weekends and holidays, for signs of illness, injury, or abnormal behavior by a person trained to recognize such signs. Each building and animal room should also be checked daily for proper functioning of environmental controls.

LAS personnel check animals daily in their assigned areas. Where research staff perform animal husbandry procedures, the principal investigator must arrange for daily observation of animals. Observations must be made regardless of illness, vacation, meetings, exams, etc. Failure to do so will result in LAS assuming animal care responsibility as required to meet federal regulations.

S. Animal Shipping and Transportation

1. Transportation of Animals on Campus

Moving animals within buildings or between buildings at Rutgers can be done by researchers or by LAS. Moving animals from building to building is subject to the same constraints as imposed on the introduction of animals to the campus from outside sources, and should not be done without consultation with the LAS Campus Manager. Animal facilities at Rutgers differ in the microbiological profiles of the animal colonies. Moving animals from a facility infected with a specific virus might introduce that virus to a facility that was virus-free and complicate or invalidate the research in that facility.

Animals may be transported in private vehicles if a few common sense guidelines are followed. Many of the following suggestions are also relevant to movement of animals within buildings.

• Do not transport animals in extremely hot or cold weather.
• Heat or cool the vehicle in advance.
• Secure all cage lids or doors to prevent escape in the event that a cage tips over.
• Identify animals individually whenever possible, in case they do get out of their cage.
• Transport cages must be sanitized after use.
• Cover animal cages so that they are not recognizable as animal cages. This is especially important if animals are anesthetized, recovering form anesthesia, are bloody form surgery, or are instrumented in any way. Be sensitive to how your animals may appear to a non-scientist, non-animal user.

2. Transportation of Animals To or From the Campus

Investigators may have need on occasion to ship animals to or from the campus. When shipping animals from Rutgers, LAS can provide assistance in arranging transportation, providing health certificates, and providing information on health status of the animals to the veterinarian at the destination facility. If making special arrangements to ship animals to Rutgers, investigators must comply with LAS procedures for animal procurement.

Transportation of dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and some other species is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act. States and foreign countries may have special requirements for the introduction of animals. Commercial carriers such as airlines and trucking companies may have their own regulations about transporting animals. In addition, the receiving institution will be concerned about the medical history and microbiological status of the animals.

For transporting animals in the New Jersey area, LAS has an environmentally controlled truck.

T. Animal Identification

1. Importance of Individual Animal Identification

Permanent identification of individual animals is recommended for a number of reasons.

• Good experimental design dictates that animals be identified for formal randomization into treatment groups.
• Even when group data is averaged or pooled, it is still necessary to record experimental findings and health problems on individual animals.
• Animals can be accurately identified in the event of lost or switched cagecards, inadvertent mixing of animals in cages, animal racks tipping over, or recapture after escape.

2. Federal Law Regarding Animal Identification

A primary goal in passage of the Animal Welfare Act by Congress in 1966 was to discourage theft of pet dogs and cats for use in research through requirements for record-keeping and animal identification. Dogs and cats must be identified with a collar and tag or by tattoo. Records on acquisition and disposal must be available for inspection by USDA inspectors and must be kept for at least one year after disposition of an animal.

Individual animal ID is required by the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations of FDA and EPA if data is to be submitted to these regulatory agencies.

3. University Policy Regarding Animal Identification

Rutgers must provide assurance to the Public Health Service that all use of animals for research and teaching is approved prior to the initiation of any project. The university can only make this assurance if LAS can identify the investigator and animal use protocol for each animal.

LAS requires that all cages be identified with an LAS cage card. In most instances, LAS will provide completed cage cards as part of the animal receiving procedures. Exceptions to this requirement for cage cards for every cage may be made for large homogeneous groups of animals only with approval from the LAS Campus Manager.

The information provided on cage cards is essential for the proper delivery of animal care by LAS. Accurate census data collection is essential for program management and billing purposes. In evaluating individual sick or dead animals, and especially in assessing colony-wide health problems, information on age, date of arrival, vendor, and genetic background is essential to provision of veterinary care.

4. LAS Animal Identification Services

LAS provides animal identification services, such as tattooing, for a nominal fee. Contact your Campus Manager or LAS.

U. Sharing of Animals and Animal Tissues

Sharing of animals and animal tissues can reduce the number of animals used for research, free up limited animal care resources, and save time and money for researchers. LAS can help investigators identify other researchers who use specific stocks and strains, or who might have certain tissues available. Requirements for protocol review, introduction of animals to facilities, animal identification, census procedures, etc. must still be met for shared animals. Federal laws and guidelines and University policy do not permit use of animals in more than one major survival surgical procedure for the sole purpose of saving money.

Call Laboratory Animal Services if you want information about sharing of animals or animal tissues.

V. Nomenclature for Laboratory Animals

Rutgers investigators are encouraged to use standard nomenclature conventions to describe the genetic background of their experimental animals in publications. For animals obtained from commercial vendors, the strain (inbred animals) or stock (outbred animals) is that found in the breeder's price list. For other animals, LAS has publications by international committees on standardized nomenclature.

W. Technical Assistance and Training

Laboratory Animal Services professional and technical personnel can provide technical assistance to investigators with special needs. If done on a formal and continuing basis, there will be a charge for labor and supplies. Nevertheless, it may be cost effective to use LAS personnel for some tasks when personnel in the investigator's lab are not skilled in a procedure or when they do not have time to do it.

Done in the context of training, where research personnel will perform the procedure once mastered, LAS provides such training at no cost.

To arrange for training or technical assistance, call the Office of the Director. (x4168)

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