Policies> Transport Policy
1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify University of Florida (UF) requirements for the transportation of rodents utilized in research at UF. Animal Care Services (ACS) performs most animal relocation-related transportation to ensure compliance with federal regulations during the movement of animals.
2 SCOPE
This policy applies to the transport of rodents associated with a change in permanent housing or the temporary movement of animals to and from laboratories or specialized equipment. The transportation of non-rodent specie animals will be performed by ACS staff or as described in the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approved protocol to which the animals are assigned.
3 DEFINITIONS
Relocation is a change in an animal’s permanent housing location.
Permanent housing is defined as housing of animals for a period of greater than twelve (12) hours.
CGRC – Cancer Genetics Research Complex
IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
4 POLICY
4.1 All animal relocations require approval from an ACS veterinarian prior to movement of the animals.
4.2 All animal relocations require that a relocation request form be submitted to the ACS Business Office, CB-160, by the Principal Investigator (PI) or his/her designee a minimum of two business days in advance of the scheduled transport day.
4.2.1 Relocation requests are available at the myACS website and are accepted via email, fax, or hand delivery to the ACS Business Office.
4.2.2 Errors detected in the relocation request will be corrected by the ACS Business Office.
4.2.2.1 The ACS Business Office will contact the PI or his/her designee to notify them that an error occurred and what correction(s) has been made.
4.3 Most animal relocations involving transports between facilities (buildings) are accomplished by ACS staff. This ensures regulatory compliance.
4.3.1 The PI may request that his/her staff performs the transport.
4.3.1.1 The method of transport must be described in the IACUC approved protocol.
4.3.1.2 Non-ACS vehicles used to transport animals require IACUC inspection and approval.
4.3.1.3 Only investigative staff listed by name on the animals’ protocol may perform the transport.
4.4 Animal relocations within a particular facility (building) may be performed by ACS staff, or by investigative staff upon request.
4.4.1 Only investigative staff listed by name on the animals’ protocol may perform the transport.
4.5 Animal transports requiring the use of an ACS vehicle will be scheduled as requested by the PI to the greatest extent possible based on ACS staff and vehicle availability.
4.5.1 Exceptions to the transportation schedule will be made on a case-by-case basis by an ACS veterinarian.
4.6 When transports require the use of an ACS vehicle, a fee will be applied to the PI’s account to cover the cost of the transport.
4.6.1 The fee is charged to the PI’s funding codes associated with the transported animals’ protocol.
4.6.2 The fee schedule for transport is posted on the myACS website.
4.6.3 As an exception, transportation fees are not charged for animal relocations from the CGRC breeding colony to other ACS facilities.
Note: Transportation fees are charged on a per trip basis. Multiple trips to satisfy a relocation request will mandate an equal number of charges against said account.
4.7 Hand carrying animals or utilizing non-ACS vehicles to move animals between buildings: (if IACUC approved).
4.7.1 Animals that are removed from SPF barrier facilities will not be permitted to return.
4.7.2 Animal transport should be limited to travel in a direct and timely manner between buildings; with the animal(s) in an escape proof enclosure.
4.7.3 The primary enclosure should be placed within a sanitized secondary container, such as a Styrofoam box or Tupperware® style container.
4.7.3.1 If the secondary container has ventilation holes, these should be covered with a filter material.
4.7.4 Temperature extremes must be avoided. When temperatures are below 60 degrees F or above 85 degrees F; animals must be transported in a timely fashion to limit the time to 10 minutes outside of a temperature controlled building or vehicle.
4.7.5 Containers with live animals must be handled carefully. They must not be tossed, dropped, needlessly tilted, or stacked in a manner which could result in their falling or handled in any manner which may cause physical trauma or distress to the animals.
4.7.6 Do not transport the animals within their home cage(s) for relocations.
4.7.7 Do not co-mingle animals from different home cages within a primary enclosure, to avoid fighting and distress.
4.7.8 Animals may remain in the primary containers for a maximum of 45 minutes, including transport time and time at the final destination before being placed into standard rodent caging with food and water available.
4.7.9 Animals may be transported within their home cage as the primary enclosure if:
4.7.9.1 The animal(s) will be returning to the facility of origin.
4.7.9.2 They will require access to food and water at the destination facility for the duration of an extended procedure. Ensure the cage system is returned to the facility of origin.
4.8 Transporting animals within a building:
4.8.1 Investigators may transport their animals to and from their laboratory or specialized equipment facilities, if approved in their protocol.
4.8.2 Animals that are removed from SPF barrier facilities will not be permitted to return.
4.8.3 As above, containers with live animals must be handled carefully. They must not be tossed, dropped, needlessly tilted, or stacked in a manner which could result in their falling or handled in any manner which may cause physical trauma or distress to the animals.
4.8.4 Consideration must be given to protecting the building’s occupants from exposure to animal allergens, microorganisms, chemicals, etc.
4.8.4.1 Encapsulating the animal’s cage, or other primary enclosure, within a plastic bag or other sealable container is strongly encouraged.
4.8.5 Animals are not to be moved through patient care areas or hospital corridors without specific review and approval by the IACUC, UF Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), and hospital administration.
4.8.6 To the greatest extent possible, animals should be moved to laboratories by the least public, most direct route avoiding patient areas and public elevators.
4.8.7 Cage cards should not leave the ACS facility unless the entire cage of animals is transported to a laboratory. The cage and the cage card must be returned to ACS at the completion of the procedure.
4.8.8 When returning animals to an ACS facility, the exterior of the cage should be sprayed with disinfectant before placing it back in their ventilated rack or static shelf position.
4.8.8.1 Animal should be returned to the same location they were originally housed.
