Biosafety: IACUC Protocol Assistance

All IACUC protocols receive a safety pre-review. This pre-review expedites the protocol review process by informing investigators of any safety-related protocol modifications that will need to be made in advance of full IACUC committee review. During this pre-review, the Institutional Biosafety Officer and IACUC Coordinator review training records for personnel that will be working on the protocol for compliance with the IACUC training policy. The protocol description and other attachments are also examined to ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date.

The Animal Hazard Safety Evaluation forms found below are attachments that may need to be included on IACUC protocols that involve the handling of hazardous biological or chemical agents. The intent of these forms is to provide for the health and safety of personnel working in LACU facilities. While completing these forms, investigators must identify all hazardous biological or chemical agents to which LACU staff members may be exposed after administration to animals. Hazardous agents include any chemicals, infectious agents, vectors, biologically-derived toxins, or other materials with the potential to adversely affect the health of humans. This includes metabolized or unmetabolized hazardous materials that may be present in urine or feces, uneaten chow or water, viral particles that may be shed, etc. Researchers are expected to perform background research (e.g. literature review) to evaluate the potential presence of hazards agent in the quantity and form that may be present. Compounds or biohazardous materials that are fully metabolized, administered in quantities or concentrations too low to be excreted, or which do not present a potential risk for exposure do not need to be included.

It is on the Animal Hazard Evaluation Forms that the investigator must provide a risk assessment to determine the biosafety level of the biohazardous agents handled, the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), precautions for animal handling, special instructions for handling bedding, and other any other factors necessary to mitigate risk associated with exposure to the hazardous materials used in the animal protocol. The Institutional Biosafety Officer will review these forms for accuracy and may be available to provide technical support while completing these documents. 

For information or assistance related to animal protocol completion, safety pre-reviews, risk assessments, containment recommendations or other safety-related elements of animal protocols contact the Institutional Biosafety Officer for additional information.

Furthermore, the Institutional Biosafety Officer will ensure that applicable IBC, IRB approvals required for the use of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi etc.), recombinant DNA, Human materials are obtained.