Aquatic Site Visit Check List

Construction

• corridors (Guide, p 136) Any cracks or unsanitizable surfaces in wall, floor, ceilings?
• animal room doors (Guide, pp 137, 150): door sweeps present, windows in doors
• exterior windows (Guide, p 137)
• floors (Guide, pp 137, 150): Any cracks or unsanitizable surfaces?
• drainage (Guide, pp 138, 150)
• walls and ceilings (Guide, pp 138, 150)
• heating ventilation and air conditioning (Guide, pp 139, 150-151)
• power and lighting (Guide, pp 141, 150)
• noise control (Guide, p 142)
• vibration control (Guide, p 142)
• environmental monitoring (Guide, p 143) If life support is dependent on power, is there automatic notification in the event of power failure?

Water Quality

• Water quality is appropriately monitored and recorded regularly (pH, ammonia, nitrates, nitrite, etc)
• standards for acceptable quality are established (Guide, p 78)
• chlorine, chloramines, chemical, and reactive bioproducts are removed or neutralized prior to use in aquatic systems (Guide, pp78, 86) [must]

Life Support System

• water source is based on appropriate controls and research requirements (Guide, p 79)
• biofilter is of sufficient size to process bioload (Guide, p 80) [must]

Temperature, Humidity and Ventilation/Illumination/Noise and Vibration

• temperature and humidity (Guide, pp 43, 80-81)
• ventilation and air quality (Guide, pp 45, 81)
• illumination (Guide, pp 47, 81)
• noise and vibration (Guide, pp 49, 81)

Primary Enclosure

• allows for normal physiological and behavioral needs (Guide, p 82)
• allows social interaction for social species (Guide, p 82)
• provides a balanced, stable environment (Guide, p 82)
• provides appropriate water quality and monitoring (Guide, p 82)
• allows access to food and waste removal (Guide, p 82)
• restricts escape and entrapment (Guide, p 82)
• allows undisturbed observation (Guide, p 82)
• constructed of nontoxic materials (Guide, p 82)
• prevents electrical hazards (Guide, p 82)
• space needs of species are evaluated by IACUC during program evaluations and facility inspections (Guide, p 83)

Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing, Behavioral and Social Management: WSU IACUC policy #30

• enrichment elicits appropriate behaviors and is safe (Guide, p 83)
• semi-aquatic reptiles are provided terrestrial areas (Guide, p 83)
• handling is kept to a minimum and appropriate techniques are in place at facility or protocol level (Guide, p 84)
• nets are cleaned, disinfected and managed to avoid contamination of systems (Guide, p 84)

Food

• storage to prevent contamination, preserve nutrients and prevent pests (Guide, p 84)
• delivery ensures access to all , minimizing aggression and nutrient loss (Guide, p 84)
• storage times are based on manufacturer recommendations or accepted practice (Guide, p 84). Feed mill date or purchase date is recorded.
• a nutritionally complete diet is provided (Guide, p 84)

Substrate

• amount, type and presentation of substrate is appropriate for the system and the species (Guide, p 85)

Sanitation, Cleaning and Disinfection

• frequency of tank/cage cleaning and disinfection is determined by water quality, permits adequate viewing and health monitoring (Guide, p 86)
• cleaning and disinfection of macroenvironment (Guide, p 86) Is the room cleaned and disinfected regularly? Is sanitation documented?
• cleaning and disinfection of laboratory, surgery, behavioral testing areas: Is the room cleaned and disinfected regularly? Is sanitation documented?

Waste Disposal

• procedures for collection (Guide, pp 73-74)
• hazardous wastes are rendered safe before removal from facility (Guide, pp 73- 74) [must] The hazard SOP is posted and the necessary PPE is present. Personnel are following the SOP
• water from tanks with genetically engineered fish or infected fish is processed before disposal
• animal carcasses (Guide, pp 73-74).

Pest Control

• regularly scheduled (Guide, p 74)
• documented program including control of pests and insecticide use (Guide, p 74) SOP/documentation of vermin control is available.
• If live traps are used, they are monitored & documented daily
• door sweeps are present and in good repair

Emergency, Weekend, and Holiday Animal Care

• care provided by qualified personnel every day (Guide, pp 74, 87): daily care sheets are filled out every day unless IACUC exempted. Ask to see previous month’s sheets
• provision for accessible contact information (Guide, pp 74, 87) emergency contact information is posted
• emergency response plans in place to address major system failures (Guide, 87) including power failure pump & oxygenation failure
• veterinary care available after hours, weekends, and holidays (Guide, pp 74, 114) [must] OCV notification policy is posted. If other than OCV veterinary services used, the other veterinary contact posted
• Signage: whistle blower policy

Identification

• cage/tank cards contain required information (Guide, pp 75, 87)
• genotype information included and standardized nomenclature used when applicable (Guide, pp 75, 87)

Record keeping

• clinical records accessible and contain appropriate information (Guide, pp 75-76)
• all medical treatments are under a SOP, ASAF or under direction of a veterinarian
• all treatments/procedures are documented with date and initials of provider
• if animals have had surgery, surgical records are accessible
• animals used are listed on the IACUC animal tracking database
• all animals are under an active protocol. If not, they are on the holding protocol
• abnormal animal mortality and morbidity is documented via OCV database and/or other record
• water quality parameters and frequency of testing recorded (Guide, p 88)
• records kept on feeding, nonexpired food supplies, live cultures (Guide, p 88)

Storage

• adequate space for equipment, supplies, food, substrate and refuse (Guide, p 141)
• Storage inside animal housing & use rooms is minimal and sanitizable
• Heavy items or chemicals are not stored on high shelves
• substrate protected from contamination (Guide, p 141)
• food in vermin-free, temperature and humidity controlled area and protected from contamination (Guide, p 141)
• refuse storage is separate (Guide, p 141)
• carcass and animal tissue storage is separate, refrigerated below 7ºC and cleanable (Guide, p 141). Carcass storage is properly labeled

Personnel

• adequate space for locker rooms, administration and training (Guide, p 135)
• personnel working with animals in the facility are listed on either an ASAF, a facility personnel ASAF or a SOP approved by the WSU IACUC
• all personnel have completed an Animal Awareness Seminar and have signed the Animal Contact Program
• training has been conducted and documented for husbandry duties, equipment operation, chemical handling, security procedures, animal health monitoring, safe/humane animal handling, etc.
• training is documented: Staff training records are located:___________

Animal Use Areas

• biologic, chemical, and physical hazards:
• Appropriate chemical labeling, storage, mixing and use
• Annual certification of fume hoods, biosafety cabinets and anesthetic vaporizers
• Any anesthetic waste gases are appropriately scavenged
• Compressed gas cylinders are secured
• Appropriate signage and posting of SOPs and corresponding PPE available
• Any required animal restraint equipment (chutes, stocks, snares, restrainers) is available, in good repair
• Eye wash stations are flushed regularly and flushing documented
• Safe sharps disposal system available and used (Guide, p 74)

Appropriate Drug Storage

• appropriate drug storage, control, expiration date monitoring, non-pharmaceutical drug approvals & DEA/WA licensing (Guide, pp 115, 122)

Euthanasia Procedures

• euthanasia procedures are performed as described in the ASAF by trained personnel. Animal death is verified by secondary means or monitoring