IACUC POLICY ON THE OVERSIGHT OF PROCEDURE AREAS FOR
US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) COVERED SPECIES ^{1
(Revised October 2005, May 26, 2005)}

1. Policy

Effective May 31, 2005 the Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) will have oversight authority over all procedures and procedure areas for USDA-covered species.

2. Notification to IACUC and LARC

At least two business days prior to initiation of a surgical or anesthetic procedure, investigators shall notify the IACUC Office.
Notification can be made by calling the IACUC Office at 476-2197 or by using the online Notification/Fasting Request form.

Note: Those investigators who are conducting minor or routine procedures that involve sedation only and not anesthesia or those who contract with LARC to provide anesthesia support services are exempt from notification.

3. Monitoring

IACUC staff is authorized to conduct unannounced audits of all animal procedural and post surgical care activities at UCSF.

4. Planning for LARC Participation

4.1 Request for LARC services. LARC procedural participation requires that:

• Investigators MUST obtain an approved surgical time through LARC, LARC recommends a 10 business-day notice. However, LARC will require at least 2 business days notice for scheduling.



• LARC veterinary professionals may require a planning meeting with the investigator. During the meeting issues such as procedure planning, suggested diagnostics, post-procedural care, proper documentation and adequate LARC staffing should be discussed and agreed upon.



• LARC will maintain all appropriate monitoring records in accordance with the approved protocol for the surgical procedures and post-surgical care. As the procedures permit, LARC will provide training for research staff, who would like to become sufficiently proficient to meet the IACUC exemption criteria.



• Alternatively, investigators may arrange for a LARC or IACUC veterinary professional to meet with the research staff to review the procedures.. If LARC or IACUC veterinary staff determines that the research staff adequately understands the procedure and documentation standards and has a history of adherence to approved protocols and policies, then investigator staff may perform the indicated activities (exempt). Laboratories must still notify the IACUC and LARC as described above.

4.2 Mandatory LARC services. If LARC veterinarians or the IACUC deem necessary, LARC staff will monitor or perform animal anesthesia and post-procedural recovery.

For mandatory LARC involvement, LARC will have either a veterinarian or veterinary technician present on a recharge basis to provide anesthesia and monitoring during the surgical procedures, post-surgical monitoring and care for all animals on a recharge basis.

1 USDA covered species includes dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, rabbits or any other warm-blooded animal which is being used or intended for use for research, teaching, testing or experimentation purposes. This term excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus and mice of genus Mus bred for research purposes.