1. Renewal Animal Training
UConn Health
2019

2. Renewal Animal Training
This annual renewal training is being implemented
To remind you of important considerations when working with animals and in any UCH animal facility or laboratory
To keep you up-to-date with various federal and local laws, regulations, and policies
To document your adherence to the IACUC protocol and federal and local laws, regulations, and policies

3. What’s new?
If you need technical help with Topaz Elements, you must call the OVPR IT help desk at or Please DO NOT call the IACUC office for technical help.
2019 will see the implementation of a new electronic protocol development and review system.

4. IACUC/CCM Initial Animal User Training
All new animal users must take the initial animal user training. It is offered once a month (tends to be more during the summer); details are on the IACUC website.
Everyone who wishes to take initial animal user training must have a UCH network account
These accounts are set by HR for regular employees
These accounts are set by department administrators for other individuals
These accounts are set up by the IACUC office for TIPS people who are using animals

5. Protocol Compliance
The following slides are going to explain the most common reasons that UCH had to report violations of Public Health Service (PHS) Policy to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), NIH for the past year
Please think of these slides as “What Not To Do”
If you have any questions, please contact the IACUC office at

6. Reports to OLAW In 2016, we had 4 mandatory reports to OLAW
Biggest non-compliant items:
Analgesics not given as described in the approved protocol
Procedures being performed on animals that are not described in the protocol
Use of expired drugs/materials in animals

7. Reports to OLAW
Protocol suspensions. Any protocol or animal activity suspension is an automatic report to OLAW and USDA (if the species used is a USDA regulated species). We had no suspensions of protocols for the 2018 year.
Many times, the non-compliance which resulted in a report to OLAW can be traced back to an individual not reading the protocol.
If you are ever in doubt as to whether or not you can (or cannot) do an activity in a laboratory animal, contact the IACUC office.
Most past suspensions occurred because people failed to complete annual OHS enrollment or training requirements.

8. Protocol/Personnel Withdrawals
The IACUC will withdraw protocols that do not have an annual review submitted by the deadline.
Typically causes of withdrawals of protocols and administrative removal of personnel include:
OHS re-enrollment not completed by deadline;
Renewal training not completed by deadline; and
Annual reviews not completed by deadline;
Most cases of previous years’ withdrawals of protocols and removal of personnel were caused by failure of people to fill out a form!

9. Protocol Approvals
The IACUC is requiring that all protocols – both animal care and use protocols and animal safety protocols – be printed out and signed by all individuals listed on the protocols. This signature is to assure that each individual:
Has read the protocol;
Understands the protocol; and
Will follow the protocol

10. Important Reminders
The next few slides are going to inform you of important items of which you need to be aware when you are using laboratory animals at UCH.

11. Humane Endpoints
All animal care and use protocols require the listing of humane endpoints.
CCM SOPs that cover humane endpoints can be found at
IACUC policies that discuss humane endpoints and other appropriate guidelines can be found at
Not knowing about any policy or guideline is not an excuse for not following them. It is YOUR responsibility to be familiar with all policies and guidelines at UConn Health.

12. Body Condition Scoring
The IACUC is encouraging the use of Body Condition Scoring as a way to evaluate mice to ensure humane endpoints.
Please arrange training from Veterinary Services if this is new for you. We will be including this in animal care and use protocols in the near future.

13. Transgenic/Gene Targeted Animals
It is a requirement at UCH to have Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) numbers for all transgenic / gene targeted animals regardless of their source of origin.
These numbers are generated to ensure compliance with both animal welfare regulations and recombinant DNA regulations.
These numbers can only be generated by the IBC coordinator and the IACUC coordinator. Do not make up your own GMO numbers.
The full name of the transgenic animal, a nickname identified in the protocol, or the GMO number must be on all cages that contain genetically modified animals.

14. Protocol Research Staff
Everyone who uses animals must be listed on the approved protocol
When people leave your laboratory and/or are no longer working on your protocol, you need to modify your protocol to delete personnel
In order to use animals, everyone must:
Have completed initial or renewal training
Be current in OHS enrollment
Be listed on an approved protocol
Have clearance from Employee Health Service (x2893)

15. Procedure Training
Everyone that works on an animal protocol must document all animal procedural training received
It is the PI’s responsibility to ensure procedure training; it is the staff member’s responsibility to document this training.
The training document is on the IACUC website at
These documents will be copied during semi-annual lab inspections, asked for during an annual review, or some other time that is available to IACUC staff.

16. Procedure Training
Do not forget about training from Veterinary Services
They can train you on most procedures performed at UConn Health
You may be required by the IACUC to have training from Veterinary Services
You still need to document your training received from Veterinary Services
If you need refresher training on how to do something, please call them. They will help you.

17. Procedure Training
How do I know if I have a safety protocol associated with my animal protocol?
The animal protocol will state it in the hazards section of the protocol. As everyone is required to read the animal protocol, there should be no questions as to whether or not you are working with a chemical or biological hazard that requires appropriate containment.
Animals will be housed in the appropriate containment room
You must give CCM 3 days notice before starting any work with hazards that require containment in the chemical containment room or the ABSL-2.
Training for the use of hazard rooms requires documentation. This documentation of training MUST be forwarded to the IACUC office.

18. In the Animal Facility Traffic flow patterns must be followed PPE
Traffic patterns can start at 1.0 and go through 8.0
Start out at your lowest traffic pattern. You can go higher in the same day, but not lower so be sure to plan your work accordingly
PPE
You MUST wear appropriate PPE in the facility. Signs on doors state what PPE is required. You must follow it.
Doors into animal facility hallways
Signs state doors must be kept closed. Please adhere to this requirement.

19. USDA Regulated Species
Special care is required when using USDA-regulated species.
Individuals using USDA-regulated species must contact Veterinary Services for regulated species training.
Remember- USDA-regulated species are warm blooded vertebrate animals with the exception of mice (genus Mus) and rats (genus Rattus) that have been bred for research purposes

20. IACUC Policies
Please review the IACUC policies. They can be found on the IACUC website at:
It is expected that ALL animal users will be compliant with all IACUC policies
Failure to comply with IACUC policies can result in sanctions from the IACUC up to, and including, protocol suspension or suspension to use animals.

21. Training Documentation
Completion of your annual renewal training signifies your attestation that:
You will perform my duties in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, USDA Regulations (9 CFR), PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, current AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia Animals, and current Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals;
You will review the protocol(s) under which I will be performing work and will be responsible for conducting this work as it is stated in the approved IACUC protocol(s) [INCLUDING safety protocols];
You will ensure that IACUC approval has been received before conducting any procedures not listed on the original protocol(s);
You will immediately notify the attending veterinarian, the PI, and the IACUC office when any unanticipated pain/distress or unexpected morbidity/mortality occurs within any of my studies.
Submission of this will complete your annual renewal training requirements for the IACUC at UConn Health. Go to the next page for submission of training completion

22. Training Documentation
Click HERE to send an that completes the documentation of this training.
If the link above does not work, please send an to with the following subject line: 2019 Animal User Renewal Training Completed