Objective: The objective is to maintain the University of Rochester’s Assurance with PHS/NIH. NIH requires PHS assured institutions comply with all standards of the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Exemptions to the Guide must be scientifically justified by the Principal Investigator and approved by UCAR.
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to describe an IACUC approved process for correcting investigators’ mouse breeding colony practices which lead to overcrowded cages.
Standard: The Guide’s housing specifications allow up to 5 adult mice in the Allentown ventilated mouse cages and up to 4 adult mice in the static microisolator cages. A ventilated mouse cage with greater than five mice (breeding adult(s) plus weanlings 29 or more days of age) or a static cage with greater than 4 mice (adult breeder(s) plus weanlings 29 or more days of age) is overcrowded and not in compliance.
Prevention: UCAR policy requires that all investigators and staff directly involved with managing breeding colonies of mice complete the “Breeding Colony Management” class as a condition of UCAR approval of the protocol or modification to add personnel. Animal Resource Policy: Additionally, any investigator with more than one overcrowded mouse cage reported per month will have subsequent overcrowded cages split into two or more cages by DLAM veterinary staff at a $50 charge per overcrowded cage to the PI.
Corrective Actions for Noncompliance:
Step 1: If an investigators’ lab has more than one overcrowded cage reported per month over a 6 month period, UCAR will notify the Principal Investigator of the noncompliance. All staff will undergo retraining by attending the Rodent Colony Management Class. The PI will submit a written assurance that he/she will oversee the laboratory practices to maintain compliance. If compliance is not maintained over the next 6 months, the PI will understand that step 2 will take place.
Step 2: UCAR must notify PHS of the ongoing noncompliance. If the research is not funded by PHS, UCAR will notify the Institutional Official’s office as well a as the Department Chair and Legal Affairs. he notification will describe the noncompliance as well as the solution mandated by UCAR. The solution will include a specific change in practice such as stopping continuous or harem breeding and housing pregnant mice at one per cage. If noncompliance persists over 6 months, step 3 will take place.
Step 3: UCAR repeats the notification process above and mandates that breeding ceases or that all breeding be managed by the DLAM veterinary staff at charge to the PI over a six month period with an option for the PI to apply to UCAR for breeding privileges with assurances to meet measurable outcomes.
Approved by UCAR: 9/20/06
Updated 1/3/07
