Guidelines > Guidelines on the Use of Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds
In accordance with OLAW, USDA (USDA Animal Care Policy # 3), and the UF IACUC’s Drug Policy For Approved Use In Protocols, the Animal Care Services (ACS) has established the following guidelines.
Investigators are expected to use pharmaceutical-grade medications whenever they are available, even in acute (nonsurvival) procedures.
Using non-pharmaceutical-grade chemical compounds in animals requires specific review and approval by the IACUC for reasons such as scientific necessity or non-availability of an acceptable veterinary or human pharmaceutical-grade product. Cost savings is not an adequate justification for using non-pharmaceutical-grade compounds in animals.
All non-pharmaceutical-grade compounds must be filter-sterilized using a 0.22 µm filter prior to administration. Filtering will not removed endotoxin and other compounds that will interfere with research results.
Furthermore, OLAW has taken the stance that questions the use of “antiquated anesthetics” (e.g.: urethane, avertin/TBE, chloral hydrate/equithesin) in contemporary scientific research indicating the use of such agents be justified and indicating, “…pilot studies may be in order to evaluate the need for such agents…”
References:
Lieggi, CC, et al. An Evaluation of Preparation Methods and Storage Conditions of Tribromoethanol. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 2005 Jan; 44(1): 11-16.
Lieggi, CC, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Stored and Newly Prepared Tribromoethanol in ICR mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 2005 Jan; 44(1): 17-22.
Papaioannou VE, Fox JG. Efficacy of Tribromoethanol Anesthesia in Mice. Laboratory Animal Science 1993 Apr;43(2):189-92
Reid WC, Carmichael KP, Srinivas S, Bryant JL. Pathologic Changes Associated with Use of Tribromoethanol (Avertin) in the Sprague Dawley Rat. Laboratory Animal Science 1999 Dec;49(6):665-7
Zeller W, Meier G, Burki K, Panoussis B Adverse Effects of Tribromoethanol as Used in the Production of Transgenic Mice. Laboratory Animals 1998 Oct;32(4):407-13
