UF provides a comprehensive training and education program essential to promoting the humane treatment, care and use of animals in our facilities. All investigative staff working with animals in research at UF are required to participate in regulatory training PRIOR to any handling or use of animals on their approved IACUC protocols. UF’s regulatory training ensures research is conducted by experienced and qualified personnel who will continue to maintain the highest animal welfare standards at all UF facilities. Additional IACUC Required Training can be found on the IACUC site.
The ACS-managed training courses below focus on a commitment to animal welfare, enhancement of essential technical skills, and promotion of the “three R’s” (reduce, refine and replace) for the advancement of biomedical research, teaching and training. Both online and in-person training opportunities are offered to all investigative staff at no charge.
IMPORTANT: All hands-on wet labs require approval in the Animal Contact Program before registering. If classes are full, please check back frequently as additional registrations regularly open when cancelations are made for those who do not have animal contact approval. You may also email the ACS Training Team to be added to our waitlist. Please be sure to wear appropriate attire for hands-on wet labs (i.e. long pants/long skirt, closed-toed shoes).
Online Courses & Hands-on Wet Labs
| Course | Type | Additional Information | Prerequisite(s) | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) | Online | Required for all mouse and rat users. Covers basic mouse and rat biomethodology, restraint, injection, and blood collection techniques. This course is a prerequisite for the Mouse and Rat Hands-on Wet Labs. | None | |
| Beginner Mouse Biomethodology Wet Lab (ACS890) | Hands-on | Required for all new mouse users. This hands-on training covers a range of topics including rodent handling, restraining, and SQ injection technique. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) |  |
| Mouse Biomethodology Verification for Advanced Users Wet Lab (ACS892) | Hands-on | Alternate Requirement to verify training in mouse biomethodology and handling for participants that self-identify as having sufficient experience and training to demonstrate proper techniques. Sign up via Special Training Request. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) | |
| Beginner Rat Biomethodology Wet Lab (ACS891) | Hands-on | Required for all rat users. This hands-on training covers a range of topics including rodent handling, restraining, and SQ injection technique. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) | |
| Rat Biomethodology Verification for Advanced Users Wet Lab (ACS893) | Hands-on | Alternate Requirement to verify training in basic rat biomethodology and handling for participants that are self-identified as having sufficient experience/training to demonstrate proper techniques. Sign up via Special Training Request. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) | |
| Rodent Survival Surgery (ACS865) | Online | Required for all research staff performing or assisting in rodent survival surgery. This course introduces survival surgery in non-USDA covered species. Covers anesthesia and monitoring, aseptic practices, wound closure methods and post-operative recovery and monitoring. | None | |
| Rodent Anesthesia and Monitoring Wet Lab (ACS885) | Hands-on | Highly Recommended – Covers anesthesia machine use, thermal support, anesthetic depth monitoring, induction, recovery, ACS and IACUC requirements, required surgical record keeping and more. Sign up via Special Training Request. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (ACS845) | |
| Rodent Aseptic Technique Wet Lab (ACS884) | Hands-on | Highly Recommended – Covers animal preparation, surgical gloving, draping, creating a sterile field, sterile surgical instrument packs, ACS and IACUC requirements, required surgical record keeping and more. Sign up via Special Training Request. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (& wet lab) Rodent Survival Surgery (ACS865) | |
| Incision & Suture Wet Lab (ACS883) | Hands-on | Highly Recommended – Wet Lab for primary surgeons based on approved protocol. May include incision and suture technique, proper wound clip placement and removal, and/or proper use of suture glue. Sign up via Special Training Request. | Mouse and Rat Biomethodology (& wet lab) Rodent Survival Surgery (ACS865) | |
| Survival Surgery Records Training (ACS870) | Online | Required for all lab members performing or assisting in survival surgery on rodents, non-USDA covered species, and USDA species. Covers creating, maintaining, and completing survival surgery records. The training also explains the importance of reviewing protocols and how to navigate protocol systems. | None | |
| BMS Irradiator Training (ACS862) | Online | Highly Recommended for research Staff requiring use of the BMS. Covers how to safely use the XRAD 350 located in the Biomedical Science Building (BMS) and the proper care of animals undergoing irradiation. | None. See the BMS X-ray Irradiator page for all requirements | |
| Working with Hazards in ACS/ARC Animal Facility (ACS924) | Online | Required (for new facility access submissions). Highly Recommended for all research staff. This online course provides learners with an overview of working with some of the hazards that are encountered in an ACS/ARC facility. The hazards covered include chemical hazards, nano hazards, and working in an ABSL-1i environment. | None | |
| Drug Calculations (ACS866) | Online | Highly Recommended for research staff working with and administering drugs to animals. This online course provides learners with information on how to appropriately calculate drug doses, weigh animals for drug administration, and make a drug dilution calculations. | None |
NOTE: Training courses are free; however, your lab will be charged a cancelation/no show fee of $100 if you do not show up or cancel within 24 hours of a scheduled wet lab. If you cannot attend a wet lab that you are registered for, please email the ACS Training Team.
*No-show/cancelation fees are NOT payable from Contract/Grant funding (funds 201 or 209).
Course Flow Guidelines
Special Training Request
ACS provides custom, one on one training for advanced rodent techniques not covered in the previously mentioned courses. Please note, a mouse or rat biomethodology wet lab must be completed prior to attending any specialty training. A Special Training Request can be submitted for training on species other than mice and rats.
FAQs
Close-toed shoes are required at all times in the vivarium. Students are encouraged to wear long pants and restrain long hair. ACS will provide all PPE needed for rodent handling.
No. Food and drink are not allowed in the vivarium.
No. ACS does not allow photos or videos without prior approval.
Registration for modules and wet labs occur in myTraining or through a Special Training Request. You can click the links in the table above or after logging into myTraining, click the search icon at the top right hand corner of the screen. Enter the ACS# or name of the class you would like to register for and the system will automatically populate matching courses. For wet labs that require a Special Training Request to sign up, please include the Wet Lab title you would like to register for in the “Training Requested” box.
- Training courses are free; however, if you do not show up for a wet lab or cancel within 24 business hours of a wet lab a cancelation fee of $100 will be billed to your lab’s protocol. If you cannot attend a wet lab you registered for email the ACS Training Team. *No-show/cancelation fees are NOT payable from Contract/Grant funding (funds 201 or 209).
You will need to cancel your class through myTraining. If you are trying to cancel a class with less than 48hour of its start time, please email the training team at acstrainingrequests-l@lists.ufl.edu.
Once you arrive, please wait in the elevator lobby outside the facility for the training team to meet you. Please do not enter the facility; all students will be met by a trainer in the elevator lobby. If you are unfamiliar with the Communicore building, we recommend locating the lobby prior to your scheduled class. If you have trouble finding us, please call the Vet Tech Office (352) 273-9587 for assistance.
If you have any questions or need assistance please contact the ACS Training Team:
- Email: acstrainingrequests-l@lists.ufl.edu
- Phone: (352) 273-9587