Purpose

To establish the training policy for the Animal Care and Use Program. This includes the Animal Care and Use 101 (ACU 101) class and additional training for all persons listed on an Animal Care and Use Protocol or working with live vertebrate animals.

Policy

A.  All persons listed on an Animal Care and Use Protocol must meet the following requirements:

1. Attend the ACU 101 class.
2. Receive job specific training and information from the Principal Investigator or supervisor in accordance with the IACUC policy regarding the Principal Investigator’s Training Responsibilities For Animal Care and Use.

B.  Undergraduate Students (i.e. 92, 99, 192, 194, 199, scholars programs, etc):

1. Must attend the ACU 101 course OR be provided the General Information for Students in Classes and receive training in accordance with the IACUC policy regarding the Principal Investigator’s Training Responsibilities For Animal Care and Use.
2. Must be added to an Animal Care and Use Protocol if working on a particular project or projects covered by that protocol for more than one quarter.

C.  Exceptions to the above policy are as follows:

1. Visiting researchers (those visiting up to twenty working days), off site UC Davis affiliated researchers, researchers not affiliated with UC Davis and volunteers must receive a passing score of at least 85% on the ACU 101 on-line exam.
2. Researchers visiting from other UCs may submit an Exemption Form signed by their home institution’s IACUC Administrator indicating they have received training on the basic laws and regulations pertaining to animal care and use (UC Exemption - PDF, MS Word).

D.  Retraining:

1.  All personnel listed on a protocol must take the Three-Year Retraining On-line Exam OR attend the ACU 101 course every three years.

2.  Re-training notifications will be sent as follows:

1. Ninety days prior to the individual’s training anniversary date, notification will be sent to the individual requiring retraining and the Principal Investigator.
2. Sixty days prior to the individual’s training anniversary date (if test or attendance has not been verified), notification will be sent to the individual requiring retraining and the Principal Investigator.
3. Thirty days prior to the individual’s training anniversary date (if test or attendance has not been verified), final notification will be sent to the individual requiring retraining and the Principal Investigator.
4. If the Three-Year Retraining Exam or attendance to ACU 101 has not completed by the individual’s training anniversary date, notification will be sent to the individual and Principal Investigator indicating removal from the Animal Care and Use Protocol roster. Once retraining has been verified, the individual’s privilege to conduct research will be reinstated and a letter of verification will be sent to the Principal Investigator.

Procedures

 A.  Campus/IACUC Office Responsibilities.

1. Information Dissemination.
   
   1. The IACUC Office will provide the ACU 101 class for all persons listed on an Animal Care and Use Protocol. The course will include information on:
      
      • Laws and regulations pertinent to animal care and use.
      • The UC Davis Animal Care and Use program for teaching and research animals.
      • The Occupational Health Program for individuals working with animals.
        
   2. Notification of upcoming courses will be made available on the EH&S website.
      
      • Classes require pre-enrollment.
      • Attendees and Principal Investigator will receive enrollment verification.
      • Attendees will receive a certificate of completion.
        
   3. The IACUC Office will inform Principal Investigators of any new policy, guideline or change related to the care and use of animals.
      
2. Animal Care and Use Training.
   
   1. Information on the experience and training of each individual listed on a protocol roster must be provided in the Protocol for Animal Care and Use. Individual qualifications are reviewed and approved by the IACUC.
   2. The IACUC Office will provide guidance to Principal Investigators in developing training documentation.
   3. The IACUC will inspect Principal Investigator’s training programs to verify that personnel have received required training. These inspections will take place and be performed in accordance with the IACUC Inspection Program.
   4. All individuals performing survival surgery on laboratory animals must take the course on Rodent Aseptic Technique (which also includes discussion regarding anesthesia, analgesia, humane endpoints, and euthanasia) offered by the Office of the Attending Veterinarian, unless the IACUC determines that this training is not necessary by review of each individual’s experience.
   5. The IACUC may mandate additional training, including species- specific training for individuals or a group of individuals, if:
      
      1. During the initial protocol review process, the need for additional training is identified.
      2. The procedure in the protocol changes substantially (e.g. changing from acute to survival surgery).
      3. Violations of the Animal Care and Use Protocol are identified due to lack of understanding of procedures or insufficient training.
         
   6. Species-specific training modules will be provided depending on need or at the discretion of the Attending Veterinarian. At a minimum, the following courses will be offered:
      
      1. Rat Handling and Lab Skills.
      2. Mouse Handling and Lab Skills.
      3. Rabbit Handling and Lab Skills.
      4. Rodent Aseptic Technique.
         
   7. The Office of the Attending Veterinarian will provide additional training as required.
      

B.  Principal Investigator Responsibilities.

1. Information Dissemination.
   
   Following protocol approval, the Principal Investigator will ensure that those on his/her protocol or other personnel in his/her lab working with live, vertebrate animals are aware of and follow regulations and policies and are trained in accordance with the IACUC policy regarding the Principal Investigator’s Training Responsibilities For Animal Care and Use.
2. Animal Care and Use Training.
   
1. The Principal Investigator is responsible for ensuring that his/her staff are trained, qualified, and informed.
2. The Principal Investigator will ensure that his/her personnel are familiar with the protocol for the particular research and procedure(s) they perform.
3. All training provided must be documented in accordance with the IACUC policy regarding the Principal Investigator’s Training Responsibilities For Animal Care and Use, Principal Investigator’s Training Responsibilities for Animal Care and Use. Copies of training documents will be maintained by the Principal Investigator.
4. The Principal Investigator will ensure that all personnel listed on his/her protocol will participate in continuing education activities relevant to their responsibilities, e.g. lab meeting updates.
5. All Principal Investigators using primates in their research will verify that all personnel listed on his/her protocol have attended training specific to primates.

C.  Facility Responsibility.

All animal care and support staff will be provided with their job specific training and risk assessment by their facility training coordinator. 

Procedure: IACUC-45
Date: 08/23/2007
Enabled by: PHS
Supersedes: 09/11/2004