Species-Specific Training Policy for Researchers Using Rats, Mice, Rabbits, and Pigs

Rationale: The Guide for Care and Use of Animals states that individuals who perform “experimental manipulations must be qualified through training or experience to accomplish these tasks in a humane and scientifically acceptable manner”. Training classes and one-on-one training for investigators for specific experimental techniques or species-specific handling has been available but not required and in many cases, experience detailed by the investigator and gained at other institutions or at the UW has been accepted as adequate. However, incomplete training can result in poor experimental outcomes and errors. Therefore, in order to more consistently meet the institutional requirement to provide adequate training, the IACUC has adopted the following policy.

Policy: Researchers (e.g., faculty, students, staff) doing hands-on work with rats, mice, rabbits, or pigs at the University of Washington must take the species-specific training classes, including on-line classes and hands-on laboratories, according to the implementation described below. Protocol PIs who do not work directly with the animals are required to complete the appropriate on-line courses only.

Implementation:

Mice and Rats: Personnel new to the UW who are being added to a protocol using mice or rats must complete the appropriate training class(es) before being added to the protocol. Personnel already working with these species at the UW, who have not taken these training classes, must complete the class(es) prior to the 3-year renewal of their protocol, inclusion on a new protocol, or addition of mice or rats as a new species to their current protocol.

Rabbits: Personnel who are working with, or who have worked with, rabbits at the UW prior to the time of adoption of this policy (May 17, 2012) are exempt from the requirement to complete the rabbit training class. Other individuals, including personnel new to the UW, who will be handling or performing procedures on awake rabbits must complete the rabbit training class before being added to a protocol utilizing rabbits.

Pigs: Personnel who are working with, or who have worked with, pigs at the UW prior to the time of adoption of this policy (May 17, 2012) are exempt from the requirement to complete the pig training class. Other individuals, including personnel new to the UW, who will be handling or performing procedures on awake pigs must complete the pig training class before being added to a protocol utilizing pigs.

Please contact the Office of Animal Welfare if there are extenuating circumstances that make it necessary for a particular individual to be exempt from attending, or delay attending, a hands-on class. For example, a new faculty member not yet on campus but who needs IACUC approval in order to transfer a grant would be allowed to complete the class after arrival.