Weeknights: call Campus Police at 962-8100. They in turn will contact Division staff.

Weekends and Holidays: page the on-call Veterinary Staff (216-1235) or Animal Care Supervisor (216-0897).


Who should I contact for an animal health problem?

Contact our Veterinary Technician staff at 966-2906 during normal working hours. They will consult with our Veterinary staff and respond to your problem. For weeknight, weekend, and holiday emergencies page the Veterinary Staff at 216-1235.


How do I report a perceived case of animal abuse?

The welfare of the animals under our care is our most important responsibility. If you feel uncomfortable with a situation involving animals please contact the Division Director at 966-3111, or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Chair at 966-5569. The report of an incident may be anonymous. They will investigate the occurrence and discuss their findings with you.


I need information to include in a grant. Who do I contact?

The University's Public Health Assurance # is A3410-01. All animal facilities are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC). Our U.S. Department of Agriculture registration number is 55-R-004. Per diem rates for various species can be obtained at http://research.unc.edu/dlam/perdiemcharges.htm. For information regarding your Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals contact the IACUC at 966-5569. For information on the cost of purchasing animals contact our Animal Procurement Specialist at 843-9249. For other information contact Pat Stanley, Associate Director at 966-2909 or Pat_Stanley@unc.edu.

Facilities Information

How do I obtain access to an animal facility?

Entrance to all animal facilities is controlled by keys or card access and differs from facility to facility.  For keys and/or cards requirements click DLAM Access or email dlamaccess@unc.edu.


What is the purpose of the bar coded cage cards on each animal cage?

Bar coded cage cards link every cage to an approved Animal Use Protocol and are used to track animal usage on an Animal Use Protocol. In addition, the Division uses bar coded cage cards to charge researchers daily housing costs (also known as per diem rates).

Approvals and Training

What approvals do I need to use animals at UNC-CH?

You must submit an Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals for review and approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals is in effect for three years, and must be reviewed annually.

Two additional documents must be submitted with the Application, an Animal Handlers Medical History Registration form, as well as a Training Information Sheet. Applications must be submitted by the first of the month for committee review at their monthly meeting the third week of the month.

Submit your forms to the IACUC at CB# 7193, Medical Bldg. 52, Telephone: 966-5569. For further information contact their web address at http://research.unc.edu/iacuc/


How often does my approved Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals need review or amending?

You must submit am annual renewal of your Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals. At the end of the third year of renewal you must submit a new Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals.

Changes, be they new personnel, an increase in animal numbers, new species, or changes in the scope of project must be recorded with the IACUC, and you should contact the IACUC office to discuss the best approach (966-5569, fax 966-8429, Trailer 52 located behind Taylor Hall). Minor changes often can be registered and approved by the submission of correspondence on your unit's letterhead detailing proposed revisions. Significant changes may require your submission of a completely new Application.


What training is required to use animals at UNC-CH?

New researchers and research staff must attend an orientation program familiarizing them with the University's animal use program. This program is on videotape and can be viewed at your convenience. Contact the IACUC staff at 966-5569 to schedule a viewing.

IACUC staff also offers additional classes in rat and mice basic handling and techniques. These classes are voluntary. For times, locations and more training information


What is the University's Occupational Health Program for animal handlers?

When submitting your first Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals, an Animal Handlers Medical History Registration form must be completed for you and your research staff. The University's Employee Occupational Health Clinic staff will review this form and may schedule further medical screening depending on the duration and type of your animal contact, as well as potential for exposure to hazards. In addition, each person's medical history is reviewed annually. The cost of any physical exams, testing, vaccinations, etc. is borne by each researcher.

Ordering and Transferring Animals

How do I order animals?

With an approved Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals you may submit an animal order to the Division of Lab Animal Medicine, the sole purchaser of research animals for the UNC-CH campus. Orders are requested by completing a DLAM Animal Order Form and sent to the Division by noon Monday for delivery next week. For more details on animal ordering, contact Marsha Moore at 843-9249 or see the Animal Ordering and Per Diem page of this web site.


What happens once I order animals?

You will receive a confirming copy of your Animal Order with the delivery date and any changes to your request. You can assume that your animals will be delivered on the date and to the facility specified in your order. Division staff will unbox your animals and put them into appropriate caging.

We assess a daily housing charge for caring for your animals and will bill you monthly for the cost. For more on housing costs see the Per Diem Charges page of this web site.


How do I import or export animals to another research institution?

Importing or exporting animals to another research institution can be an involved process. For specific details on the steps for importing or exporting animals contact Pamela Revels, Animal Transport Coordinator at 966-0711 or Marsha Moore at 843-9249 or see the Importing/Exporting Animals page of this web site.

Veterinary and Technical Services

Who should I contact for veterinary/technical advice and assistance?

Please call the Division's veterinary offices at 966-3111 to be put in touch with one of our veterinarians. Additional information on anesthesia, euthanasia, etc, is available through the DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services.


What technical services does the Division offer?

Division staff members are available to instruct research personnel in proper experimental techniques at no charge. Technical services such as blood withdrawal, administration of anesthetics, production of antibodies, animal restraint, etc. are available to investigators in support of research activities. Charges are assessed for these services. Contact the Veterinary Technician staff at 966-2906 or check DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services for additional information.


What are the Division's veterinary resources?

The Division staff includes four veterinarians with specialty certification, two are diplomates of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the third a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. In addition the Division has one post-doctoral veterinarian, four veterinary technicians and three laboratory technicians. These laboratory animal specialists provide a comprehensive program of veterinary care, offer technical advice and assistance, and provide needed laboratory and pathology services for diagnostic and research purposes. For a more in-depth description of the program see the DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services.


What steps do I take to have animals euthanized?

Division staff will euthanize designated animals once you have completed and signed a Request for Euthanasia of Animals form and clearly marked the cages. Effective November 1, 2005, investigators will be assessed a service charge of $5 per cage of animals euthanized by division staff (a cage = 5 mice or 4 rats).Telephone requests will not be honored. Larger animals are killed with an overdose of pentobarbital, adult rodents with carbon dioxide and rodent neonates by halothane. All animal facilities have carbon dioxide chambers available for euthanizing adult rodents only. Instructions for use are posted by the chamber.


What happens if one of my research animals dies?

Division staff will remove the carcass from the cage, place it inside a plastic bag, mark the bag by writing the investigator's protocol number, room number, cage card number and date and deposit it on shelf in the dead animal cooler. A 3" x 5" white with red lettered "Dead Animal" card will be placed behind the cage card. For rats, mice, guinea pig, hamsters, and gerbils researchers wishing to be contacted upon an animal's death should sign the Request for Notification posted in each rodent room. The building supervisor will contact only investigators requesting notification. For all other species the supervisor will contact all investigators upon an animal's death. In either case the supervisor should notify the investigator no later than the day after the death or the first working day after a weekend or holiday.


What steps do I follow to use hazardous materials in animals?

A Use of Hazardous Materials in Animals form should be completed when submitting your Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals to the IACUC, who in turn will refer it to Health and Safety. After review, Health and Safety will send to the Division a copy of the form, along with recommended safety procedures.

Almost all biohazardous research involving animals is conducted in isolation cubicles located in Berryhill Hall, Mary Ellen Jones Building, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Neurosciences Building and the Thurston-Bowles Building. Use of these cubicles must be coordinated through the Division's Clinical Veterinarian (966-3111). He or she will review Health and Safety's recommendations, assign animal space and familiarize the Division staff with necessary precautions. Hazard isolation cubicle space is limited, so please plan ahead!


What laboratory and pathology services does the Division offer?

A veterinary pathologist oversees the Division's laboratory and pathology services, including a comprehensive diagnostic laboratory, necropsy facilities, clinical pathology and histopathology. For more information DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services or call the Division's veterinary offices at 966-3111 to talk with our veterinary pathologist.


What is UNC-CH's policy on survival surgery?

Survival surgery on all research animals except cold-blooded animals and rodents must be done in a dedicated surgical facility approved by the IACUC. The Division manages a suite of 4 operating rooms in Berryhill for this purpose. Call the Veterinary Technician staff at 966-2906 or check DLAM Veterinary and Technical Services to learn more about these services.

Survival surgery in rodents does not require a special facility but must be performed using sterile instruments, surgical gloves, and aseptic techniques to prevent clinical infections. The IACUC Standard Operating Procedures web page has detailed information on techniques, analgesia, etc.

Animal Care Policies and Procedures

Who do I call if I have a housing problem with my animals?

Please discuss the matter first with the animal facility supervisor where your animals are located. You may discuss your concerns further with Randy Allen, Facility Director at 843-0737 or Dr. John Bradfield, Director at 843-6330.


I want to expand my numbers of animals. How do I request additional housing space?

Discuss your needs with the animal facility supervisor. You may also contact the Director at 843-6330 or Randy Allen, Facility Director at 843-0737. Viral-free rodent housing space is limited, but we will make every effort to meet your needs.


I want to feed my animals a special diet. How do I accomplish this?

Discuss your needs with the animal facility supervisor. He or she will help you work out the logistics of feeding the diet. We ask that you mark each cage being fed a special diet with removable red DO NOT FEED tape available from Division personnel. Also complete the top portion of the Check Sheet for Animals Fed and/or Watered by Investigator Form. Of particular importance are your daily and after-hours telephone numbers where we can contact you if questions arise. The Sheet will be posted in the animal room and you must note the date and time you feed your animals on this sheet.


I want to add something to my animals' water. What steps do I take?

Discuss your needs with the animal facility supervisor. He or she will help you work out the logistics of special watering. We ask that you mark each cage being specially watered with removable green DO NOT WATER tape available from Division personnel. Also complete the top portion of the Check Sheet for Animals Fed and/or Watered by Investigator Form. Of particular importance are your daily and after-hours telephone numbers where we can contact you if questions arise. The Sheet will be posted in the animal room and you must note the date and time you water your animals on this sheet. Animals on special water must be checked daily.


Can laboratory animals be removed from and returned to an animal facility?

In most cases, the removal of an animal from the animal facility potentially exposes the animal to contaminants such as infectious disease agents. The re-entry of these animals into our facilities is regarded as a health risk to the entire colony and not permitted. If your studies necessitate the transient removal of animals from the animal facility to the laboratory contact the Division several weeks in advance regarding special provisions for the return of animals to the facility.


How do I move animals from the animal facility to my laboratory space?

The transport of laboratory animals between housing areas and research labs is the responsibility of the investigator and his or her staff. Researchers must make available their own transport cages, and please take steps to assure that your transport container does not allow animal waste to be dropped on the floor.

All animal movement on campus should adhere to the following principles: ensure strictly that the animal(s) have a consistent and appropriate environment during transport; completely and inconspicuously conceal the animals during transit; and observe sensible security precautions. The routes of transit should be planned to minimize transport time and contact with the public, and your response to confrontation should be planned ahead.


How do I transfer ownership of animals from/to another investigator?

Animals may be transferred to or from another investigator provided both researchers have an approved Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals for that species. Complete Sections A & C of the Request for Bar Coded Cage Cards form and forward to the Division at CB# 7115, 1100 Bioinformatics or by fax at 843-9340. New cards will be printed reflecting change of information. Please note that transferred animals will be counted against your allowed usage numbers.

Due to potential differences in health status we must authorize the movement of animals between animal facilities. If you select the “DLAM to Move” box in Section C of the Request for Bar Coded Cage Cards Division staff will move animals and change cage cards. Pamela Revels, Animal Transport Coordinator at 966-0711 coordinates transport of animals.


What is the rodent disease status for animal facilities on campus?

Berryhill Hall, Dental Research Center, McGavran-Greenberg Hall, MBRB, Mary Ellen Jones Building, Neurosciences Building and the Thurston-Bowles Building are considered to be free of rodent pathogens. The Facilities page provides a more detailed description of each facility as well as viral status.

Veterinary and Technical Services

How does the Division meet my animals' daily needs?

Over sixty five laboratory animal technicians provide animal care in all the animal facilities. Their goal is to furnish a humane, healthy and comfortable environment for the animals under their charge, free from any variables that could compromise your research project. Choose DLAM Animal Care Program to learn more about our husbandry staff, facilities and procedures.