Tracking and training personnel on protocols
Subject: Training Requirements for Visitors and Personnel Working with Animals
Revision Date: August 21, 2024
Guideline on Training Requirements for Visitors and Personnel Working with Animals The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is charged with ensuring that personnel that care for or conduct procedures on living animals have appropriate qualification, experience, and training. The Principal Investigator (PI) is responsible for ensuring that all personnel (laboratory staff, instructors, teaching assistants, students) using live animals are appropriately listed or identified on the animal protocol. Additionally, the PI must ensure that all personnel are appropriately trained, informed of applicable regulatory requirements, and apprised of all hazards and risks prior to allowing personnel to engage in animal activities.
- Visitors/Tour Attendees/Observers are defined as individuals entering an animal area for observational purposes only.
- Short-term personnel are defined as individuals participating in a research or training activity for ten (10) or fewer consecutive days or twenty (20) or fewer total days over a one-year period. The intent is to permit an educational event, such as a visiting scientist sharing procedural knowledge or medical students participating in a teaching laboratory. The role of short-term personnel should not be used to fill employment gaps.
- Long-term personnel are defined as individuals participating in a research or training activity for more than ten (10) consecutive days or twenty (20) total days over a one-year period.
Visitors/Tour Attendees/Observers
- Not required to be listed on the animal protocol
- Must be approved in advance by the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) office
- Cannot touch or handle animals; observation only
- If touring a DLAR animal facility, visitors must sign in and out at the DLAR front office and must be accompanied by a member of the DLAR staff or research staff member on an approved protocol
• Not required to be listed on the animal protocol via a personnel amendment
• Not required to be enrolled in Medical Surveillance Program
• Must receive information on animal use policies and protections, whistle blower policies,
and occupational health risks (e.g., zoonoses, PPE)
• Must work under the direct supervision of the PI, DLAR, or an experienced member of
the PIs laboratory who is listed on the protocol
• Cannot handle animals or perform procedures on the protocol unless the person is a
visiting scientist/technical expert sharing procedural knowledge.
The PI must submit a Short-term Personnel Form to the IACUC Administrator prior to
the class/activity
start date. This email document signifies the assurance of the PI that they are responsible
for training in
lieu of the mandatory training requirements. The personnel’s participation in the
protocol(s) will not
commence until the PI has received a response from the IACUC regarding approval of
the form.
• Required to be listed on the animal use protocol
• Required to be enrolled in the Medical Surveillance Program
• Must complete appropriate training as listed below
Training Requirements for Long-Term Personnel
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) requires that all
personnel involved with the care and use of animals be adequately educated, trained,
and/or qualified, and that training programs include continuing education. The Guide
also requires documentation of training. This section of this guideline specifies
the training requirements that are in place at The University of Toledo to meet applicable
regulations and guidelines pertaining to animal use.
Prior to working with animals, individuals must complete basic training components
as detailed below. Note, that additional training may also be required if an individual
changes job/protocol responsibilities after initial approval to work with animals.
Completion of the training below is required for new and renewal protocols, or personnel
amendment approval.
ITEM
- Investigator, Staff and Student
- Introduction to species specific by protocol
- Reducing Pain & Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats
REQUIRED FOR
All Staff
All Staff
If using rodents
FORMAT
CITI Program
CITI Program
CITI Program
In order to gain access to Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) facilities, additional IACUC/DLAR training is required as detailed below. Some IACUC/DLAR training is dependent on specific job/protocol duties.
ITEM
- DLAR Orientation
- Rodent Handling & Restraint
REQUIRED FOR
All Staff
All Staff Working with Rats/Mice
FORMAT
Test Bank
Hands-On (DLAR)
Prior to performing these procedures, additional training is required as detailed below.
ITEM
- Isoflourane Anesthesia
- Aseptic Technique/Surgery
- Specific surgical procedures in the protocol
- Hazard Training
- Rodent Breeding
- Rodent Tumor Guidelines
- Cervical dislocation or decapitation euthanasia in conscious rodents
REQUIRED FOR
Those performing anesthesia only
Those performing surgery
Those performing surgery
Those working with biological or chemical hazards
All staff with rodent breeding
Those conducting tumor studies
Those performing these procedures
FORMAT
Hands-On (DLAR)
Test Bank & Hands-On (DLAR)
Provided by the PI or senior laboratory personnel*
Test Bank & Hands-On (DLAR)
Test Bank
Test Bank
Provided by the PI or senior laboratory personnel*
*Must be documented in laboratory
ITEM
Introduction to Genetically-Modified Mice in Research
REQUIRED FOR
Those using genetically modified mice
FORMAT
CITI Program
References
- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition. 2011. National Research Council Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).