Transportation of research animals is often necessary to accomplish research goals. These include, but are not limited to:
transportation to the Principal Investigator (PI) laboratory for survival studies
transportation to the PI laboratory for terminal studies
transportation to designated core equipment areas such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound (US) or surgery
transportation to facilitate collaboration between investigators, either at the same or different institutions
A number of concerns must be addressed in order to accomplish the transportation with minimum impact on animal welfare and study parameters and in accordance with regulatory guidelines. These include, but are not limited to:
animal welfare
compliance with federal, state and local regulations
impact on the public perception of animal research
containment of any zoonotic and hazardous agents
Institutional Policies
Boston University (BU) adheres to all federal and Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC) guidelines and institutional environmental health and safety policies, and specifically promotes the following policies:
To minimize stress to the animals by minimizing temperature fluctuations, vibrations, noise, and movement.
To minimize health risks to BU colony animals from primate pathogens.
To minimize exposure of other personnel and the public to allergens from laboratory animals.
To protect occupants of the building, and drivers of vehicles used for transportation, from allergens of animal origin, microorganisms, chemicals, radioactive materials and escaped animals.
To minimize the time spent in public hallways, building lobbies, patient areas, study areas, or other laboratories, when primates are transported between laboratories and the animal housing areas or study areas. Designated freight elevators must be used whenever available.
To prevent viewing of the animals by members of the general public.
To prevent escape of transported animals and concern by the public for exposure to any actual or perceived zoonotic pathogens.
In order to optimize compliance with above polices, Boston University specifies when it is appropriate for investigators to transport their own animals and how they will be transported, and when BU ASC or designated or commercial carriers must be used.
Who Transports the Animals?
Federal regulations and AAALAC do not specify who transports the animals and under what circumstances research staff may be responsible for transport and when animal care staff or a commercial carrier is used. Climate controlled specially designed vehicles are used by commercial vendors. Some institutions have a designated, climate controlled vehicle for animal transport within campus or between institutional campuses. BU ASC does have such a vehicle.
In order to optimize research support as well as assuring animal welfare and regulatory compliance and safety, for animals, as well as for people, Boston University IACUC and OEHS have approved the following procedures for transport of rodents.
BU ASC staff performs all animal transport except as described in packing animals for transport within campus and transporting animals on infectious disease studies or treated with chemical agents, toxins or radioisotopes.
Animal Identification and Cage Cards
Animals transported in their home cage will retain the cage card holder and cage card, including ID on their cage card.
Animals transported in a temporary container will retain their cage card for placement on the new cage.
Transport to Another Animal Room or Facility on Campus
BU ASC – BUMC performs ALL transport between animal rooms or animal facilities.
When animals need to be transferred between animal facilities and/or animal rooms on campus, PI or Designated Research Staff completes required transfer documents at least three (3) business days BEFORE animals must be moved. BU ASC staff then reviews request and if there are no issues/concerns packs and transfers animals to the new animal room/animal facility, where they are unpacked and placed in their new home cage.
BU ASC staff is available to transfer animals Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, excluding holidays.
Investigators/Research Staff: Packing Animals for Transport Within Campus
For transport between the animal room and the laboratory or core study areas:
Details of the transport must be described in an approved IACUC protocol and be specific for the species, experimental use, and lab space. This should include at a minimum the locations the animals will be moved to, the required equipment and containers to move the animals, and a rationale for the required movement.
The cart enclosure must be opaque and provide adequate ventilation.
Take the animal(s) directly to their destination. Do not stop along the way.
Special Precautions
Special precautions must be taken when transporting animals to lab or study area within campus when:
A. On infectious disease studies (ABSL-2 only)
Between animal room and PI Laboratory or Study Area within or between buildings on campus: Animals on ABSL-2 studies are transported within secondary leak-proof, shatter-proof containers.
The containers must be labeled “ABSL-2.”
B. Animals treated with chemical agents, toxins or radioisotopes
Between animal room and PI Laboratory or Study Area within or between buildings on campus: Animals treated with hazardous chemicals, toxins or radioisotopes are transported inside a leak-proof, shatter-proof secondary container.
The crates must be labeled “Biological Hazard” or “Chemical Hazard” or “Radioisotope.” Extra precautions may be required per OEHS protocol and laboratory-specific SOPs for the chemical agent, toxin or radioisotope in question.
C. Animals transported between buildings
Assure that animals are covered with an opaque drape or comparable material so that animals are not visible and animals are not stressed by external activities.
Assure that animals are protected from environmental extremes, including temperatures (hot or cold) or precipitation (rain or snow), during transport. The IACUC discourages transport during temperature extremes (temperatures greater than 85°F or less than 45°F), and encourages PI to minimize exposure time in these circumstances. Note that heat or cold stress will cause animal stress and may affect research results or animal survival if the animal is compromised.
Take the animals directly to their destination. Do not stop along the way.
Ports of Entry and Exit
Whenever possible during animal transport, avoid entries and exits used by the public. Every effort must be made to use a side door and avoid the main or front entrance.
BUMC
*avoid Main Entrance and use Receiving Entrance of: medical school, 700 Albany St, 620 Albany St, 650 Albany St, 670 Albany st,
CRC
24 Cummington Mall, Rm. 107: Use Cummington St. “Receiving” entrance
590 Commonwealth Ave.: Use Blandford St. side entrance.
Decontamination of Carts Used for Transport of Animals by Investigators
NOTE: The disinfectant chosen should be the one required for use in the animal room and appropriate for the agents in use. Alcohol disinfectants are not an appropriate choice for the decontamination of animal transport carts due to the rapid evaporation and short contact time.
All carts need to be sprayed down after each use with a virucidal and anti-bactericidal compound such as 10% freshly made bleach solution MB-10, a quarternary ammonium compound, or Virkon. This should include, at a minimum, all surfaces and wheels. Follow minimum contact time to allow the chemical to deactivate the agent.
All such carts should be totally cleaned weekly. This can be done by the lab using a disinfectant such as MB-10 or Virkon on all surfaces.
Required Documents for Transport Approval
A. Transport TO and FROM PI Lab or Core Facility
For transport between the animal room and the PI laboratory or core study areas: IACUC approval as described and approved in the IACUC protocol.
B. Transport between PIs, PROTOCOLS and ANIMAL ROOMS in the same institution
For transport between PIs, PROTOCOLS and ANIMAL ROOMS in the same institution: IACUC approval as described and approved in the IACUC protocol.
C. Transport to or from BU campus and other institution
Submit an Export or Import request as directed here. Please note that these transfers can take several weeks.
D. Interstate transportation
Same as C, plus USDA Certificate of Health documents. Available from BU ASC veterinary staff.
E. Air transportation
Same as D, plus carrier shipping documents. Available from BU ASC veterinary staff.
Disposal of Dead Animals
Dead animals are deposited in the receiving institutions necropsy facilities or as directed by Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) or Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
References
The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (AWA, P.L. 89-544, CFR 2.22 -2.80)
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (ILAR, NCR, 2011)
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Policy: Transportation of Animals (2005).
Boston University Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP)