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Research Administration and Compliance

NC State Primary Site Veterinarian Guidelines

Purpose

The University Attending Veterinarian (UAV) may delegate authority to the Primary Site Veterinarian (PSV) to ensure animal health, well-being, and the provisions of the animal care program are met.

Procedures

  • The institution must provide investigators and instructors with access to a veterinarian
    • Full-time or part-time species-experienced veterinary authority can be delegated by the UAV to meet the program needs.
  • Non-veterinary staff must have a mechanism to report animal concerns to the Veterinarian (UAV/PSV).
    • Mechanisms must be documented and available for review. They should ensure timely, direct, frequent, and accurate reporting of animal concerns,
    • The mechanisms should ensure concerns associated with animal health, behavior, and well-being are captured, and that appropriate treatment or euthanasia is administered.
    • Email, telephone, on-site visit logs, and the like are all acceptable mechanisms
    • Provisions for emergency coverage when the veterinarian is not available must be included as part of the mechanism.
  • The PSV must communicate with the UAV regularly. The UAV must oversee veterinary care provided
    • Communication should Include details of unexpected deaths, chronic/ongoing medical, or biosecurity issues that may impact animals owned by NC State University. 
    • The Clinical Animal Health Report filled out within 72 hrs is the required communication method for all research and teaching animals. 
    • Emergency veterinary care must be provided as appropriate. As soon as practical, inform the UAV along with reporting agencies. 
  • Animal health SOPs must be developed in conjunction with the UAV
    • SOPs are used to ensure appropriate husbandry, handling, medical treatment, immobilization, sedation, analgesia, anesthesia, and euthanasia are administered when not covered by an IACUC-approved protocol.
    • Training must be documented for non-veterinary staff that administers SOP treatments.
  • Animal health SOPs must have documented review by the UAV.
    • Make all applicable SOPs physically or electronically available for review and signing by UAV.

References

  • 4th edition of The Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching p.9
  • 8th edition of The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, p. 106.
  • Animal Welfare Regulations -9 CFR AWR Subpart C -2.33