UCAR Policy on Use of Analgesics, Tranquilizers & Anesthetics

Adopted by the University Committee on Animal Resources

Background:

To assist institutions with self enforced regulation, PHS/NIH and USDA established conditions of funding (PHS Policy and the Guide) and regulations (USDA Animal Welfare Act) to guide institutional animal care and use committees with policy making program decisions such as definition of painful procedures and use of analgesics, tranquilizers and anesthetics.   

USDA 9CFR1.1 Definitions: Painful procedure as applied to any animal means any procedure that would reasonably be expected to cause more than slight or momentary pain or distress in a human being to which that procedure was applied, that is, pain in excess of that caused by injections or other minor procedures.

PHS Policy (rev 2002) & Health Research Extension Act:  Proper use of animals, including the avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress, and pain when consistent with sound scientific practices, is imperative.  Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress should be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia. ..”

UCAR Policy:

Painful procedures in animals must be performed using appropriate anesthetic, analgesic or tranquilizing drugs unless such drugs adversely affect the procedures, results or interpretation of research.  UCAR requires scientific justification from the principle investigator before considering approval of protocols involving painful procedures where appropriate anesthetics, analgesics or tranquilizing drugs are withheld (Category E). 

An anesthetic regimen, approved by the university veterinary staff, must be used for surgical procedures,

A tranquilizer regimen, approved by the veterinary staff, must be used for painful or distressful nonsurgical procedures (e.g. intraocular injections, burns, restraint of fractious animals such as nonhuman primates for MRI or CT imaging or TB testing & physical examinations).

An analgesic regimen, approved by the university veterinary staff, must be administered after induction of anesthesia and prior to the surgery (e.g. craniotomy, thoracotomy, laparotomy, amputation, fracture, …) and post-operatively if the animal demonstrates clinical signs of pain.

Research staff needing guidance with interpreting a species-specific surgical plane of anesthesia or species-specific clinical signs of pain or distress should consult with the university veterinary staff at X5-2651 or refer to the UCAR Manual’s Chapter 2 (Drug Dosage - Table 1) available at the UCAR web site: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ucar/manual/table1.htm.

Updated 12/1/05