Comparative Medicine

Training & Technical Services

IACUC Required Documented Training

All new personnel requesting IACUC certification for their use of vertebrate animals in research or teaching and access to an animal facility must complete documented training, and as such, upload documents to their 鈥�Researcher Profile鈥� via the 鈥淎pplications for Research Compliance (ARC) portal in accordance with IACUC Principle VIII, depending on research interests. Forms documenting in-person training are available on the Comparative Medicine 鈥�SOPs, Forms & Signs鈥� web page, and for IACUC certification may potentially include:

  1. Health and Risk Assessment for Employee Safety in the Care and Use of Animals
  2. Facility Orientation of Research Staff
  3. Laws, Regulations, Policies, and the Guide - USF Orientation
  4. Curriculum vitae or resume
  5. Rodent Basic Biomethodology AALAS LL module
  6. Rodent Basic Biomethodology In-Person Training 
  7. Handling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice AALAS LL module
  8. Handling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice In-Person Training
  9. Rodent Aseptic Surgical Technique AALAS LL module
  10. Rodent Aseptic Surgical Technique In-Person Training
  11. USDA Species Basic Biomethodology In-Person Training
  12. USDA Species Aseptic Surgical Technique In-Person Training
  13. Physical Methods of Euthanasia Without Anesthesia In-Person Training

Facility Orientation

Completion of a Facility Orientation of Research Staff includes reviewing the tutorial Animal Facility Orientation provided by Comparative Medicine staff, which is also available on the Comparative Medicine 鈥�SOPs, Forms & Signs鈥� web page.

In accordance with IACUC Principle VIII, prior to requesting in-person training, personnel must document completion of didactic training via the AALAS Learning Library (LL) by uploading certificates of completion to their ARC Researcher Profile.

Didactic Training

IACUC Required AALAS LL Didactic Training

  1. Laws, Regulations, Policies, and the Guide - USF Orientation 鈥� required prior to IACUC personnel certification, certificate uploaded to item 3.3 of your ARC profile
  2. Rodent Basic Biomethodology 鈥� required prior to in-person training and IACUC personnel certification, certificate uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile
  3. Handling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice 鈥� required prior to in-person training and protocol approval, or access to SRB facility, certificate uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile
  4. Rodent Aseptic Surgical Technique 鈥� required prior to in-person training and protocol approval, certificate uploaded to item 3.5 of your ARC profile

Additional didactic training modules available via the AALAS LL, offered to all, but required of Comparative Medicine staff who will be handling animals, certificates of completion of which are uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile, include:

Comparative Medicine Staff AALAS LL Didactic Training

  1. Health Concerns of Mice
  2. Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia of Mice
  3. Identification and Weaning of Mice
  4. Isoflurane Anesthesia of Mice
  5. Substance Administrations to, and Blood Collection from Mice
  6. Necropsy of Mice
  7. Intravenous Administrations to Mice

In-Person Training

Calendar of In-Person Training

  • Monday: Immune Deficient Mouse Use - contact IACUC coordinators
  • Wednesday: Rodent Aseptic Surgery - once per month @ 1 pm alternating in site
  • Thursday: Rodent Basic Biomethodology - alternating sites @ 10 am weekly

Rodent Basic Biomethodology In-Person Training

 In-person training in the use of rodents is required of all new personnel other than the PI prior to IACUC certification. AALAS LL completion of the tutorial 鈥淩odent Basic Biomethodology鈥� is required prior to in-person training.

Attendance must be scheduled in advance no later than 12 pm two week days before the scheduled session by emailing compmed@usf.edu and attaching a copy of the certificate of completion of the AALAS LL module, which should also be uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile.

At the completion of your rodent basic biomethodology training you will at a minimum be able to handle and restrain an animal, administer an injectable anesthetic, collect a blood specimen, and appropriately euthanize an animal for post mortem tissue derivations.

Upon completion of in-person training in 鈥淩odent Basic Biomethodology鈥�, the certificate of completion should be uploaded to item 3.7 of your ARC profile.

Classes are led by two instructors per 10 attendees.

USDA Species Basic Biomethodology In-Person Training

In-person training in the handling and use of a USDA species is required prior to IACUC personnel certification and offered upon request in the COM or Center for Advanced Medical Learning & Simulation (CAMLS) facility by emailing compmed@usf.edu. In your email request, please indicate both the USDA species to be used and the date you would prefer to attend.

Upon completion of in-person training in 鈥淯SDA Species Basic Biomethodology鈥�, the certificate of completion should be uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile.

Rodent Aseptic Surgical Technique In-Person Training

In-person training in aseptic surgical technique involving rodents is required of personnel other than the PI prior to IACUC protocol approval. AALAS LL completion of the tutorial 鈥淩odent Aseptic Surgical Technique鈥� is required prior to in-person training.

Attendance must be scheduled in advance no later than 12 pm two week days before the scheduled session by emailing compmed@usf.edu and attaching a copy of the certificate of completion of the AALAS LL module, which should also be uploaded to item 3.5 of your ARC profile.

Upon completion of in-person training in 鈥淩odent Aseptic Surgical Technique鈥�, the certificate of completion should be uploaded to item 3.6 of your ARC profile.

Classes are led by one instructor and limited to 10 attendees.

USDA Species Aseptic Surgical Technique In-Person Training

In-person training in aseptic surgical technique involving USDA species is required prior to protocol approval and offered upon request in the COM or CAMLS facility by emailing compmed@usf.edu. In your email request, please indicate the protocol number, the USDA species to be used, and the date you would prefer to attend.

Upon completion of in-person training in 鈥淯SDA Species Aseptic Surgical Technique鈥�, the certificate of completion should be uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile.

Handling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice In-Person Training

In-person training in the handling and use of immune deficient mice is required prior to SRB facility access, and IACUC protocol approval. AALAS LL completion of the tutorial 鈥淗andling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice鈥� is required prior to in person training attendance.

Please contact IACUC coordinators @RSCH IACUC.

Upon completion of in-person training in 鈥淗andling and Use of Immune Deficient Mice鈥�, the certificate of completion should be uploaded to item 3.8 of your ARC profile.

Classes are led by one instructor and limited to 10 attendees.

Physical Methods of Euthanasia In-Person Training

In-person training in physical methods of euthanasia without the benefit of anesthesia is required prior to protocol approval and offered upon request in the COM facility by emailing compmed@usf.edu. In your email request, please indicate the protocol number, species and method to be used and the date you would prefer to attend.

Comparative Medicine Staff Advanced In-Person Training

Comparative Medicine staff advanced training in methods of rodent use, including (1) health concerns of mice, (2) carbon dioxide euthanasia of mice, (3) identification and weaning of mice, (4) isoflurane anesthesia of mice, (5), substance administrations to and blood collection from mice, (6) necropsy of mice, and (7) intravenous administrations to mice.

In-person advanced training is offered upon request. 

Attendance is required of all Comparative Medicine staff that are developing proficiencies in methods of rodent use, but other research or animal care staff are welcome to attend, and can request attendance by emailing compmed@usf.edu In your email request, please indicate the date and skill topic you would prefer to be instructed in.

Please address questions to compmed@usf.edu.