1. There must be a bar-coded cage card on every animal cage.

2. Bar coded cage cards link every cage to an approved Animal Use Protocol.

3. Bar coded cage cards track animal usage on an Animal Use Protocol.

4. The Division uses bar coded cage cards to charge researchers daily housing costs (also known as per diem rates).

Examples of Bar Coded Cage Cards

1. General Bar Coded Cage Card

2. Bar coded cage card should be kept on the outside of the cage card holder. Make sure the bar code is not blocked!

Bar coded cage cards when animals are bred

1. When animals are weaned into a new cage, a new bar coded cage card must be put on the cage.

2. Complete Sections A & B of the Request for Bar Coded Cage Cards form, fax to 843-9340 or leave in Completed Cage Card Request bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility.

3. To obtain cage cards for weaned cages one must:

   • have a valid Animal Use Protocol number,

   • not have exceeded the authorized number of animals on the protocol,

   • have a valid UNC account number to charge costs.

4. DLAM will print cards, return cards to animal room bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility

5. Research staff are responsible for putting bar coded cage cards on cages.

6. DLAM can pre-print extra cage cards for future use. Estimate number of cages and animals in Section B of form. Enough for a month’s activity is suggested.

7. Animal numbers are deducted from the Animal Use Protocol once bar coded cage cards are printed.

8. Per diem charges begin when the card is put on the cage and scanned during DLAM’s weekly inventory.

Bar coded cage cards when animals are transferred to another researcher

1. Complete Sections A & C of the Request for Bar Coded Cage Cards form, fax to 843-9340 or leave in Completed Cage Card Request bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility.

2. Note in Section C whether DLAM should move these animals.

3. If investigator is to move animals DLAM will return cards to animal room bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility.

4. If DLAM is to move animals DLAM will move cage and place new cage card on cage.

5. Animals transferred are deducted from the receiving researcher’s Animal Use Protocol. However, the donating researcher does not receive credit for the animals transferred.

Bar coded cage cards when an expiring Animal Use Protocol is replaced by a new protocol

1. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) will transfer existing cage cards to new Animal Use Protocol, will deduct animal numbers from new protocol.

2. DLAM will print new bar coded cage cards with new protocol number and deliver cards to animal room bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility.

3. Research staff should replace cage cards with old protocol numbers with cards with new protocol numbers. This will allow any data written on the cage card by the research staff to be transferred to the new card.

4. Cage card number located below the bar code can be used as guide for switching cards.

Bar coded cage cards for other situations

1. No cage card change needed when a changing a billing account number. Done internally by computer system.

2. No cage card change needed when cage location is changed. Weekly inventory scan records this change and makes appropriate transfer.

3. Animals not weaned but separated for overcrowding, fighting, etc. will not be counted against animal numbers. Be sure to answer "No" to the question "Are These Animals Being Weaned" in Section B of the Request for Bar Coded Cage Cards.

How bar coded cage cards relate to Animal Use Protocols and animal usage

1. Cage card gives the IACUC and DLAM the ability to link each cage to an Animal Use Protocol, track when protocol is to expire, etc.

2. Cannot order animals or cage cards without valid Animal Use Protocol or if authorized numbers have been exceeded,

3. Animal numbers are deducted from authorized amounts when cage cards are requested for weaned animals.

4. Animal numbers are deducted from authorized amounts when animals are purchased from vendors.

5. Animal numbers are deducted from authorized amounts when animals are transferred to another researcher.

6. If authorized numbers are exceeded the IACUC can do an expedited review for limited number of additional animals.

How bar coded cage cards relate to animal inventory and per diem charges

1. Inventory charges begin when cards are scanned into system, end when cards are removed from system.

2. When you are finished with your cage cards, put cards in Used Cage Card bin of the Cage Card Center located in each animal facility.

3. Bar coded cage cards that have not been scanned for two weeks during DLAM’s weekly scanned inventory are automatically removed from inventory.