General Information for Research Staff - Index
Please not that this information does not pertain to specific
facilities. For facility specific information please check
the Facilities page.
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All animals must be ordered through the facility manager or ACVS
unless approval has been received for the Animal Use Subcommittee.
Facility managers may only order animal that will be held in their
facility. Each facility will have guidelines for ordering
animals and deadlines for ordering standard rodent strains for arrival
the following week.
Unusual strains or species or animals ordered from non-standard
suppliers take considerable more time to order and to arrive.
Check with the facility for approximate time lines and additional
costs for sourcing animals. |
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All animals in all facilities receive care seven days a week.
During weekends and holidays the time that animal care staff will be
in the facility may be shortened. Emergency contact numbers will
be posted inside the facility in case you require assistance. |
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Veterinarians assume primary responsibility for individual facilities.
Make sure that you know who your contact vet is, however in the event
that the facility veterinarian is not available another veterinarian
will answer any questions that you have. The facility veterinarian can
help you with protocol preparation, animal model selection,
anaesthesia and analgesia regimes as well as any procedural or health
problems. See the section on
services provided
by ACVS. For emergency veterinary services you
may call 850-2468 and follow directions for leaving a message.
Emergency service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week. |
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The investigator is responsible for monitoring the well being of their
research animals. The records must be kept with the animals and
records detailed enough to allow animal care and veterinary staff to
know what have been done to the animal. The frequency of
monitoring may be outlined on the animal use protocol and should
increase in frequency if the animal becomes sick. What
interventions are done should also be recorded. See
the SOP section
and your AUS approval
letter for pertinent SOP's. |
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Death is not an
acceptable endpoint |
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Each facility has different requirements for entry. Protective clothing required will
all vary considerably from shower and complete change of clothes to
street clothes depending on the species and disease status of the
facility. The animals in any facility can only be maintained in a healthy
disease free state if everyone co-operates with entry policies. Please
familiarize yourself with and follow these policies. Entry to each facility is controlled.
You will have to complete
an access application form and in some cases attend and orientation
form prior to being granted access. Contact the facility manager
for more details.
Rodent Barriers
In general, entry into a rodent barrier rodent facility is
restricted to individuals who have not been in contact with other
rodents during the past forty-eight hours. Adherence to policy
is essential if diseases are to kept out of the barriers. A disease
break in a barrier unit can have devastating effect on research and
the animals.
Conventional Housing Facilities
Street clothes are acceptable for entry into conventional units. |
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