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Animal Resource

URMC / Animal Resource / Hazards

 

Hazards

Instructions for Researchers Administering Hazardous Agents to Laboratory Animals 

BIOHAZARDS (ABSL-2) 

The CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Guidelines (BMBL) requires animal room doors be posted with ABSL2 biohazardous agent information only when the hazard is actively present in animals in the room.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME administering ABSL-2 agents to animals, you must indicate so on the forms below so that an orientation can be scheduled prior to administration.

For the Vivarium, please complete the form in the link below. Then follow the instructions provided for posting the form to the housing room.

Animal Biosafety Level 2 Posting 

Researchers must place a fully completed orange biohazard cage card on each cage housing animals dosed with ABSL-2 agents. These cards are available in the Animal Resource office.

Researchers are responsible for complying with the UCAR Protocol-specific safety requirements in their IBC approval letter. IBC approval letters are sent after the PI has submitted the required IBC forms, the UCAR protocol is available in Topaz for IBC review, and the IBC has granted approval at a scheduled meeting. In addition, all lab members must be up-to-date with EHS Laboratory Safety Training.

Please contact the Biosafety Officer at X-53241 or srosen22@safety.rochester.edu with any questions about the IBC review of your use of ABSL-2 agents.

BIOHAZARDS (ABSL-1) 

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME administering ABSL-1 agents to animals, you must indicate so on the form below so that an orientation can be scheduled prior to administration.

Please submit the Notification of Intent to use Hazardous Substance(s) Form provided below.

 

If you have already completed orientation, another form is not required. Just make sure to label your cages accordingly and follow the guidelines provided in the IBC letter.

Researchers are responsible for complying with the UCAR Protocol-specific safety requirements in their IBC approval letter. IBC approval letters are sent after the PI has submitted the required IBC forms, the UCAR protocol is available in Topaz for IBC review, and the IBC has granted approval at a scheduled meeting. In addition, all lab members must be up-to-date with EHS Laboratory Safety Training.

Please contact the Biosafety Officer at X-53241 or

srosen22@safety.rochester.edu with any questions about the IBC review of your use of ABSL-1 agents. 

CHEMICAL HAZARDS

BEFORE YOUR FIRST TIME administering chemical hazards to animals, you must schedule an orientation by submitting the form at the link below. 

Notification of Intended Use of Chemical Hazards in the Vivarium

If you have already completed orientation, another form is not required. Just make sure to label your cages accordingly and follow the guidelines provided in the EHS letter.

Researchers must identify cages containing animals dosed with chemical hazards (chemotherapeutic, antineoplastic, cancer hazard, mutagen, ....) by placing a gray colored chemical hazard card behind the primary vivarium cage card for the duration the hazard is present in the cage. These cards are available in the office if needed.

Please contact EH&S at (x 5-3241) with any question about EHS review of your administration of chemical hazards to research animals. 

RADIOACTIVE HAZARDS

Radioactive hazards reviewed and approved by EHS for administration in your UCAR protocol may only be used in animals after meeting with the Vivarium Director of Operations (Lonnie Thomas MBA, CMAR) and Diane Moorman-White DVM, CPIA). Since radiation hazards are so rarely used in animals housed in the vivarium, advanced planning for special room preparation is required.   

After submission of the form at the link below, the vivarium will office will contact you to set up a meeting.  You may also contact the vivarium leadership at X5-2651 for more information about arranging a room for housing radioactive hazard dosed animals in the vivarium.

Application to house radioactive hazard dosed animals in the Vivarium 

Please contact Rayma Bilicki University Radiation Safety Officer (x 5-3241) or Rayma_Bilicki@URMC.Rochester.edu about the EHS review of your administration of radioactive hazards to research animals.