AAALAC is Coming - NUS - Home

MAY 2010 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE FREE
AAALAC SITE VISIT
SPECIAL EDITION
Mark Your Calendar: June 9-11, 2010
The Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care—
International (AAALAC) will conduct a site visit to NUS on Wednesday, June 9 through
Friday, June 11, 2010.
What is AAALAC?
AAALAC International (the Association
for Assessment and Accreditation of
Laboratory Animal Care—
International) is a private, nonprofit
organization promoting the humane
treatment of animals in science through
a voluntary accreditation program, a
program status evaluation service, and
educational programs.
AAALAC is comprised of professional
life science societies and is not a
governmental agency. It has no
regulatory function and does not
formulate animal care or use policies or
regulations. AAALAC is a voluntary
peer-review process and certifies
whether standards of excellence in
institutional animal care programs are
attained and maintained.
NUS submitted a comprehensive
written description of the institutional
animal care and use program. The
description included facility locations,
institutional animal care and use
policies, veterinary care, husbandry
practices, personnel qualifications,
IACUC operations, and occupational
and environmental health and safety
programs.
The 600 page NUS animal care and use
program description was sent to
AAALAC in April 2010.
After AAALAC receives and reviews
the program description, a site visit is
scheduled (June 9-11, 2010). The site
visit team includes comparative
medicine experts and specialists familiar
with the care and use of animals in a
research environment. Our team will
include Dr. Hong Chou Chu, Dr. James
Elliott, and Dr. Kerry Taylor, and Dr.
Imelda Winoto. They will spend 3 full
days touring and evaluating the NUS
facilities and program.
Accreditation by AAALAC indicates
compliance with animal care and use
policies set by the United States’
National Institutes of Health (NIH),
NASA, American Heart Association,
among others. While 90% of the top
100 institutions receiving NIH funding
are AAALAC accredited, only 45% of
the institutions in Times Higher
Education (THE) top 30 are AAALAC
accredited. Seventy-five percent of the
top 15 THE institutions are AAALAC
accredited.
For more information about AAALAC
accreditation, please contact Dr. Patrick
Sharp or the
IACUC .

Why are the benefits of
pursuing AAALAC accreditation?
Represents quality
Promotes scientific validity
Provides assurance in a global marketplace
Demonstrates accountability
Provides a confidential peer-review
Stimulates continuous improvement
It’s a recruiting tool
What are the site visitors assessing?
The site visitors were provided the
600-page NUS program description
outlining the animal care and use
program and facilities. During their 3-
day visit they will visit more than just
the animal housing areas. They will visit
animal procedure areas, including
researcher’s laboratories where animals
are used in the course of research,
teaching, and testing. While evaluating
the program description, inspecting
facilities, and interviewing members of
the NUS animal care and use
community, the site visitors will be
working to answer the following
questions:
Is the university in compliance with
the NACLAR Guidelines and other
internationally accepted standards?
Is the animal care and use program
adequately supported (authority and
funding) from the top levels of
administration?
Have previously identified problems
been addressed and corrected?
Is the IACUC effective?
Are the animal use projects and
procedures being conducted approved
by the IACUC?
Are individuals using and caring for
animals properly trained and skilled?
Is the occupational health and safety
program for animal care and use
personnel effective?
Are animal husbandry, veterinary
care, animal surgery, and euthanasia
performed in accordance with the
regulations and internationally accepted
standards?
Are the physical facilities (including
caging, rooms, buildings, ventilation
systems, etc.) designed and maintained
in accordance with the regulations and
internationally accepted standards?
Are hazardous agents used in
animals conducted with appropriate
safeguards of other animals, personnel,
and the environment?
Expect site visitors to direct special
attention to research projects involving
prolonged physical restraint, food/water
restriction, multiple major survival
surgeries, category E protocols, and the
use of hazardous agents.
When encountering site visitors during
their rounds on June 9-11, please
welcome them and respond to their
questions in an honest and forthright
manner; feel free to network by asking
them about their home institution’s
animal care and use program.
Please direct your questions and
c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e A A A L AC
accreditation to Dr. Patrick Sharp
or the IACUC
With your assistance, we
anticipate a successful
accreditation site visit!!
Prior to the AAALAC site visit, if you wish to schedule an IACUC/Comparative
Medicine Educational Lab meeting or a pre-AAALAC “Lab Walk-
Through", please contact the IACUC at iacuc_forum@nus.edu.sg or 62861 or
Comparative Medicine through Dr. Patrick Sharp at sharp@nus.edu.sg or 67164.
Thank you again for your continued dedication to NUS’ animal care and use program.
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Do you have any suggestions?
Sure! Here are some suggestions to
assist your preparation for the
upcoming AAALAC site visit….
1. Know AAALAC i s t h e
Association for the Assessment and
Accreditation of Laboratory Animal
Care—International and that it is a
non-profit organization comprised of
professional societies in the life
sciences. Accreditation is based on a
voluntary, peer-review process.
2. Know the site visit will occur
June 9-11, 2010. A detailed schedule will
be provided to facility managers in
advance, and will be available to others
on request from the IACUC office
.
3. The site visitors include:
•Dr. Hong Chou Chu, Level
Biotechnology, Inc.
•Dr. James Elliott, University of Texas
San Antonio
•Dr. Kerry Taylor, Kansas State
University
•Dr. Imelda Winoto, US Naval Research
Unit
Members of the AAALAC site visit
team manage and operate animal care
programs. The site visit team
understands and appreciates our efforts
of programmatic improvement. Since
they manage programs, they will be
familiar with various problem areas. The
best approach? Find problems ... Solve
problems.
4. Be familiar with the NACLAR
Guidelines. The full text is available at
http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/
C64255C0-3933-4EBC-
B869-84621A9BF682/13557/
Attach3_AnimalsforScientificPurposes.P
DF.
5. Update all research staff
members on animal care and
use, including students and temporary
laboratory members. Those working
with animals should be acquainted with
the basics of animal care and use
including, occupational health and
safety, contacting a veterinarian, IACUC
approval of animal use procedures. Use
this information to conduct a review
session with all laboratory members.
Are the research staff performing only
those procedures outlined in their
IACUC-approved protocol?
6. Use only the anesthesia and
analgesia agents outlined in the
IACUC-approved protocol. Their use
needs to be documented; if it isn’t
documented, it didn’t happen. Contact a
Comparative Medicine veterinarian if
you have any questions regarding
anesthesia or analgesia.
7. Animals are not to be
maintained outside the
vivarium more than 12 hours,
unless specifically stated in the IACUCapproved
protocol. When the IACUC
has approved housing animals outside
the vivarium, the attending veterinarian
must have access to the housing area
and a room husbandry log must be
completed.
8. Follow the recommendations
of the veterinarian. Treat or
euthanize your animals as prescribed by
the veterinarian. Please do not treat or
use anything not listed on the IACUCapproved
protocol (antibiotic,
analgesic, or other agents) without first
consulting with the veterinarian.
9. Be familiar with the humane
endpoints outlined in the IACUCapproved
protocol and ensure they are
followed and documented where
applicable.
10. Be familiar with your
IACUC-approved protocol. Every
staff member should be familiar with
the IACUC-approved protocol for their
projects, and ensure that the animals
are only used according to the IACUCapproved
protocol. Expect the site
visitors to compare the actual
experimental activities with those
described in the IACUC-approved
protocol. The IACUC-approved
protocol for each project is available
from the principal investigator. Please
have copies of all your IACUCapproved
protocols where your
research staff can review them.
11. Document all treatments.
Record that you have performed the
treatments as prescribed by the
veterinarian, and save the records for
subsequent IACUC, AVA, or AAALAC
review.
12. Clean up, but don’t close
down. Site visitors expect things to be
orderly, but they don’t expect deserted
laboratories or animal facilities;
deserted facilities will not make the
best impression. Knowledgeable
research personnel are encouraged to
make themselves available to discuss
scientific objectives of their animal use
projects.
13. Training. Ensure all the research
staff have completed the necessary
animal, facility, and safety training.
14. Answer questions in an
honest and forthright manner.
Don’t hesitate to answer a questions
with “I don’t know” if that’s the case;
you could add that you’d contact
Comparative Medicine or the IACUC
to find out.
15. The site visitors must
adhere to all entry requirement
and restrictions for your area, such
as PPE, traffic patterns, light schedules,
etc. For special clothing requirements,
facility managers should be prepared to
supply clothing and/or other protective
gear for at least 8 people (3-4 site
visitors, 3-4 facility representatives).
16. Notify area housekeeping
staff. They will want to be extra
vigilant about the cleanliness of public
areas of buildings during the site visit.
17. If you are removing rodents
from the vivarium. Place the cages
(with the water bottles turned upside
down during transit) inside opaque
plastic bags before transporting them
through hallways or service elevators.
This minimizes the spread of rodent
allergens in public areas and decreases
animal visibility.
18. Don't re-cap needles. Place
the uncapped needle and syringe
directly into the ‘sharps’ container.
19. Review all vivarium
procedures. Hours of operation;
c o n t a c t s ; p e r s o n a l p ro t e c t i ve
equipment (PPE); use of the surgery
and procedure rooms; use of the
anesthetic machines and other
common equipment.
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Do you have any suggestions?
20. Review IACUC policies. E.g.,
survival surgery, euthanasia, tumor size,
etc. For more information visit the
IACUC website at www.nus.edu.sg/
iacuc.
21. Review aseptic surgery
requirements. (1) anesthetize; (2)
generously shave or clip fur; (3) apply
three alternating scrubs using Betadine
or Chlorhexidine and 70% isopropyl
alcohol.
22. All surgical rodents require
analgesia and antibiotics. Unless
otherwise approved by the IACUC,
surgery patients require at least 72hr of
analgesia and 5 days of antibiotics.
C o n s u l t a v e t e r i n a r i a n o n
recommended drugs and dosages.
23. Check your lab for expired
drugs and for nonpharmaceutical-grade
drugs: All
expired drugs intended to be used on
animals must be discarded. Nonpharmaceutical-grade
drugs (e.g., Sigma,
Fisher) must be approved by the
IACUC prior to their use on animals.
24. Secure all compressed gas
cylinders: All cylinders (O2, CO2,
N2, N2O) must be properly restrained
with chains or straps secured to the
wall or by mounting them on a stable
cart or dolly.
25. When animals attack: Review
procedures for what to do in case of an
animal bite: (1) wash and clean the
wound, (2) report to your supervisor,
(3) report to the Occupational Health
Facility, (4). notify Comparative
Medicine (re-training in animal handling
may be needed).
26. Review chemical hazard
procedures: Become familiar with
the chemical hazards you may be
exposed to by reading the Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for
substances kept in your research, study
or surgery areas.
27. Formalin perfusion: Be sure to
use formalin only inside a fume hood or
on a down-draft or back-draft table.
28. Keep food away from tissues
and chemicals: Don't store your
lunch or other food or beverages for
human consumption in the same
re f r i g e r a t o r w h e re yo u s t o re
laboratory chemicals, biohazards or
animal tissues/carcasses.
\")*!L&!!"#2!0&&]!Z&-^!
If you or your laboratory do not
understand or have a clear
answer for any of these items,
please contact Dr. Patrick Sharp
sharp@nus.edu.sg or the IACUC
iacuc_forum@nus.edu.sg. The
animal program wants to help
your laboratory be well prepared
during the upcoming AAALAC
accreditation site visit!
W(*#!P(%(*!W;-=(=)3!
✁
✁
Comparative Medicine
Obtaining Veterinary Care
✁
CeLS Vivarium
Dr Enoka Bandularatne
•T: 651-62261
•E: lacbesd@nus.edu.sg
Normal Business Hours
MD1
Dr. Jonnathan Peneyra
•T: 651-63790
•E: lacpjl@nus.edu.sg
Pathology and Diagnostic Services
Dr. Scott Trasti
•T: 651-68170
•E: trasti@nus.edu.sg
MD4 Vivarium
Dr. Shannon Heo
•T: 651-67870
•E: lachsys@nus.edu.sg
Director, Comparative Medicine
Dr. Patrick Sharp
•T: 651-67164
•E: sharp@nus.edu.sg
Emergency, After Hours,
Weekends, and Holidays
T: 9001-3073
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Uhhh, I could really use a checklist…
Check!! We hope this will assist in your
final preparations…
Labels
Check that all animals are
properly identified with species,
strain/stock/breed, source, principal
investigator, pertinent dates (birth,
arrival, capture, etc.), and especially the
IACUC approval number.
Check for proper labels on all
containers of all solutions and dry
goods to prevent accidental misuse or
injury.
Check that all hazard labels
are current. Remove obsolete hazard
signs; make sure signs are prominently
posted for current hazards. Contact
OSHE if you have any questions
Discard all expired items:
drugs, treatments, fluids, foods, etc. If it
has an expiration date, properly dispose
of the materials on or before that date.
Husbandry
Ensure all feed is fresh (within
6 months of the labeled milling date for
most species) and appropriate for the
species.
Check that all animal caging
is cleaned and sanitized on an
appropriate schedule.
Ensure all animals are clean
and dry. Cages should be spot
changed if the bedding appears wet or
overly soiled.
Veterinary Care
All ill or injured animals
must be reported to
Comparative Medicine
veterinary staff. Remind everyone
using your facility. Information on
obtaining veterinary care is found on
page 4 and is posted in the animal
facilities.
Micro and Macro Animal
Environment
Check that animals are
provided with adequate
housing space. See the NACLAR
Guidelines for specific information on
space requirements. No overcrowded
cages! It is particularly important to pay
special attention to cages in which
litters of rodents are present; these can
quickly and easily become too
crowded.
Check that caging is in good
repair and of appropriate
design for the animals housed.
No sharp edges, no escape routes, no
rust/corrosion, no cracks.
Check animal room
temperatures. They should be stable
(varying not more than a few degrees
each day) and appropriate for the
animals housed. Make sure that
minimum-maximum thermometers are
reset daily.
Check animal room
ventilation. Everyone who enters an
animal room should perform the “Sniff
Test.” If the room is stuffy, malodorous,
o r e x p e r i e n c i n g t e m p e r a t u r e
fluctuations, the ventilation should be
evaluated and corrected as necessary.
Check light timers. Make sure
the lights really go off at night by staying
late or coming in early at least once
every 6 months.
Facility/Equipment
Maintenance
Check washers and
sterilizers. Don’t depend on the
machine settings and read-outs. Use
independent indicators (strips, vials,
etc.) to ensure sanitation and sterility.
Ensure log books are up to date and
available for review.
Check that moisture-proof
outlet/switch covers or ground
(earth)-fault interrupters are
installed. They will protect you from
electric shock hazards in your area.
Check your security system.
Are your animal room doors locked? Is
video sur veillance periodically
reviewed?
Check that all surfaces in
your animal housing rooms are
in good repair, vermin-proof (no
holes or gaps), and sanitizable (nonporous).
Check your animal room
housekeeping. Get into those hardto-reach
spots. Get rid of anything that
is not absolutely necessary for daily
animal care/use.
Vermin problems? Notify pest
c o n t r o l a n d O E D. T h e y a r e
knowledgeable about the special
requirements of vermin control in
animal research facilities.
Storage
Check that storage of food,
bedding, caging, etc. is separated
from storage of chemicals, cleaners, or
other hazardous agents. Food and
bedding must be stored off the floor
and away from the wall. Opened or
torn bags of food or bedding must be
stored in a vermin-proof, leak-proof
container with a tight-fitting lid.
Check that any substance
that may be toxic to animals,
but required for animal husbandry or
use (cleaners, experimental agents,
etc.), are stored in a cabinet or other
secondary container to ensure that the
animals cannot come into contact with
hazardous substances.
Ensure animal carcasses are
stored in dedicated
refrigerators/freezers. The
carcasses should be double-bagged
using opaque bags.
All trash receptacles must be
leak-proof and have tight
fitting lids. In addition there should
be adequate numbers of properly
labeled waste receptacles strategically
placed throughout the facilities. Don’t
forget to empty them regularly!
S-#A)-)*(&+!4"#']3(%*!
5

Uhhh, I could really use a checklist…
Personnel
Check that all personnel
working with animals are properly
trained and listed on the IACUCapproved
protocol. Training is
mandatory and available at NUS
through the monthly Responsible Care
and Use of Laboratory Animals
(RCULA) species-specific courses.
Descriptions of the training classes, and
schedules and registration information,
is available on the IACUC website,
www.nus.edu.sg/iacuc
Eating, drinking, smoking, or
applying cosmetics in not
allowed in animal facilities.
Remind everyone using your facility.
Check that the emergency
and on call veterinarian
information (nights, weekends,
emergencies, etc.) is posted in
each facility.
Know the Animal Concern
Hotline and report anything you see
that troubles you to the Animal
Concern Hotline (see below)
Relax, be friendly, and convey your
enthusiasm, pride, and sense of
tremendous responsibility toward
ensuring ethical and humane care and
use of animals.
✁
Please print, cut, laminate, and post
✁
Animal Concern Hotline
6516-2644
The National University of Singapore is strongly committed to
the ethical and humane care and use of animals in research,
teaching, and testing. The Animal Concern Hotline
(6516-2644) provides a mechanism for NUS staff members and
the general public to report any matter of concern about
humane aspects of laboratory animal care and use. The IACUC
will promptly investigate any and all reports submitted and
maintain confidentiality, within University guidelines, regarding
the source of information it receives.
IF YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT
TROUBLES YOU, PLEASE CALL!!
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