University of South Florida

 

Introduction 

The IACUC facilitates the use of tissues from animals euthanatized for other research or teaching purposes in an effort to reduce the number of animals needed for teaching and research. Tissue sharing is in keeping with the "3 Rs" (i.e., reduction, refinement, replacement) of laboratory animal use.

The NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Division of Animal Welfare (AW) have concurred and have published the following (excerpted) information in regards to PHS grant applicants and the use of animal tissues: 

• "PHS grant applicants using shared animal tissues or slaughterhouse materials are advised to specify the origins of the tissues when describing their proposed use in an application, especially if the “no” box is checked on the vertebrate animal block of the face page."  
  
• "Any reference to the use of animal tissues in the [PHS] application is likely to trigger questions about IACUC approval."
  
• "...an explanation in the application that the tissues will come from dead animals as a by-product of other IACUC-approved studies, or from a slaughterhouse, will help avoid delays in the peer-review process." 

USF Requirements for Animal Tissue Use

In order to document that appropriate practices of acquisition, use, and disposition of animal tissues are followed, and with appropriate consideration of occupational health and safety, an Application for Use of Animal Tissues must be submitted whenever animal tissues are requested from an IACUC-approved protocol, another institution, or other source.

The applicant Principal or Secondary Investigator must have a faculty appointment with the University or an appropriate VA appointment with the James A. Haley Veteran’s Administration.   

The PI must assure that all research personnel and/or students using animal tissues are adequately trained and experienced, and/or supervised to perform the procedures and are aware of all occupational health & safety practices associated with the use of animal tissues described in the application.

All Principal Investigators that desire to use animal tissues only, with no intention of using live animals, must seek registration and approval by the USF IACUC. Registration is accomplished by completing the Application for Use of Animal Tissues     and submitting it to the IACUC, c/o Research Integrity and Compliance, IACUC@research.usf.edu.

Proposals involving live animals as a source of fresh tissue, or that involve project-specific antemortem manipulations, must be submitted using an Application for the Care and Use of Animals.

Acquisition of Animal Tissues

In order to document appropriate practices of tissue acquisition, the source of animal tissues must be identified on the Application for Use of Animal Tissues    (e.g., from other IACUC approved protocols, slaughterhouses, or by-product of commercial fishery).

In addition, The PI must have knowledge of all regulations pertaining to the acquisition of animal tissues under study, have obtained all permits necessary for carrying out the proposed studies prior to their initiation, and ensure that studies will be in accordance with all wildlife regulations.

Shipping and receiving of animal tissues/specimens must be conducted in accordance with federal safety and importation guidelines and regulations. The PI must act in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regulations regarding the limits on importation of animals or tissues that may have been exposed to an exotic livestock or poultry disease agent, and the limits on the importation of plants and other vegetable matter. The PI must act in accordance with the Public Health Service Foreign Quarantine Regulations (42 CFR 71.54) which govern the importation and transfer of etiologic agents and vectors of human disease. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations must also be followed. The movement of other non-infectious materials such as formalin-fixed tissues, sterile cell cultures, and other preserved tissues or materials where no evidence or indication exists that they contain an infectious agent of animal or public health significance are not governed by these regulations.

Occupational Health and Safety 

Occupational health and safety principles require that personnel using animal tissues know the hazards associated with their work, understand how these hazards are controlled, have safe practices, and use proper personnel protective equipment and supplies.

The use of fresh or frozen animal tissue may pose a risk to the health of researchers and technicians through the transfer of disease (zoonosis) such as brucellosis, leptospirosis, and listeriosis. The University maintains a program for occupational health and safety of employees working with animals.

The PI must ensure that prior to beginning research involving animals and/or animal tissues, personnel/students are familiar with the health risks associated with the species involved in the work. By using the link below, personnel may become familiar with some of the health hazards that might be associated with the animal species from which the tissue is derived.

Risk Assessment for the specie(s) that you intend to work with.

When working with fixed tissue, consider the following information on the potential hazards associated with fixatives, (e.g., formaldehyde).

Guidelines for the Safe Use of Formaldehyde

MSDS for formaldehyde, for "NASCO-Guard®," "Carolina's Perfect Solution"

MSDS for formaldehyde-preserved animals

USF Chemical Hygiene Plan

Disposition of Tissues

Tissue, either fresh or fixed, must be disposed in an appropriate manner.

• The University has posted specific information on the disposal of biomedical waste.
• Using a University computer, MSDS information is available on line.

Any questions or comments, please contact CompMed@research.usf.edu, or call (813) 974-9796.