WSU SpokaneResearchResearch Service CentersProgram of Laboratory Animal Resources

Program of Laboratory Animal Resources (PLAR)

PLAR’s goal is to facilitate compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations governing animal utilization in teaching, research, and testing. The staff of the department strives to maintain a quality animal care program that meets the standards required to receive accreditation by the Association for the Assessment of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

WSU is an AAALAC accredited research and educational institution. The Spokane vivaria are located in two areas with a total of approximately 20,000 square feet.

The husbandry staff has years of experience with a wide range of laboratory animals. A veterinary specialist is available to assist with technical and surgical procedures. All staff members are encouraged to be AALAS certified and participate in district AALAS meetings. The Spokane vivaria have a full-time lab animal veterinarian on staff.

The HVAC system can maintain 71 °F ± 2 °F and 50% ± 20% relative humidity. The system is monitored 24 hours. Alerts are sent to several personnel if the temperature or relative humidity is outside the acceptable range. The rooms are programmed to maintain negative or positive pressure as appropriate for the function within the room. Light cycles are programmable and are monitored. The vivaria are equipped with a rack washer and two bottle washers. Changing stations are provided in each room. All animals are housed in ventilated cages. Immunocompromised animals are housed under sterile conditions. Most of the animals are housed under SPF conditions (cages changed in a changing station, sterile gowns, gloves). A small number of animals are housed under conventional conditions. Cages are changed every 2 weeks or as necessary.

The major equipment available includes:

  • lVlS imaging unit
  • Micro-CT scanner
  • Irradiator
  • Isoflurane vaporizers
  • Biosafety cabinets
  • Fume hoods
  • Pass-thru autoclave

The facility has the capacity and potential for significant research growth on campus.

Equipment and Services

Technical Services

PLAR employs a veterinary specialist who is available to assist researchers with technical procedures. Typical tasks that can be conducted include:

  • Identification (ear tag, ear punch, tattoo)
  • Tail snips for genotyping
  • Assist with or perform injections, blood draws, gavage
  • Preparation for surgery (surgical packs, animal prep)
  • Assist with or perform surgical procedures
  • Post-operative care (recovery, analgesics)
  • Assist with or perform tissue collection
  • Hematology Services

The benefit of utilizing the veterinary specialist is that they are highly qualified to perform technical duties. This also provides support to the research staff during the busiest times of the study. The time of the Veterinary Specialist is charged in 15 minutes increments. See the per diem rate sheet for the hourly charge.

Equipment

The vivarium maintains a wide array of equipment that is available to all researchers. Equipment includes:

  • Isoflurane Vaporizers
  • Heating Pads
  • Hot Bead Sterilizers
  • Restrainers for tail snip or tail vein injection
  • Three Procedure/Surgery Rooms; two rooms are equipped with heated surgery tables
  • Surgical Lights
  • Small 37° Incubator
  • Fume Hoods
  • Biosafety Cabinets
  • Gases (O2, CO2)

The following equipment is available through the research service center for a fee:

  • Imaging Equipment (IVIS, Quantum)
  • Ultrasound
  • Irradiator
  • Dry Ice
  • Liquid Nitrogen

Regulations, Policies and Procedures

The following documents provide guidance regarding lab animal regulations, policies and procedures:

Below are links to the forms used in PLAR:

Per Diem Rates

Rates are based on the Cost Analysis and Rate Setting Manual for Animal Research Facilities that is issued by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR).

These are new rates that are effective as of July 1, 2022. As a reminder, it is best practice to plan for a 3 percent yearly rate increase when proposing studies and submitting grants.

Current per diem rates

Training

All personnel involved with the care and use of animals must be adequately educated, trained, and/or qualified in basic principles of laboratory animal science to help ensure high-quality science and animal well-being. The institution should provide appropriate education and training to members of research teams to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and expertise for the specific animal procedures and the species used.

The IACUC requires completion of the Principles of Animal Care (PAC) and Occupational Health Training – Animals (OHT-A) prior to the approval of the Personnel Amendment. The following training sessions are offered by PLAR Management:

  • Facility Orientation and Tour
  • Animal Handling, Restraint, and Basic Techniques

Depending on the procedures included in the ASAF, the following training sessions may be required:

  • Breeding, Aging and Sexing Rodents
  • Working with Hazardous Agents in the Animal Lab
  • Surgery Skills
  • Protocol Specific Techniques (Bleeding, Gavage, IV Injections)

Animal Ordering and Transport

Approved Vendors

All animals must be acquired lawfully. The receiving institution should ensure that all procedures involving animal procurement are conducted in a lawful manner. To order animals from an approved vendor:

  • Complete the Animal Order, Import, Export Request form.
  • A copy of the completed form will be sent to you, your department fiscal contact, and PLAR.
  • Send a copy of your completed form to the appropriate Purchasing Department to obtain a PO number.
  • The Purchasing Department will submit the Animal Order Form and PO number to PLAR. This information needs to be completed by the end of day Wednesday.
  • PLAR places orders on Thursday morning. This allows the vendor time to verify that the order can be filled or if alternative ages or weights are available.
  • Animals are received the following week on either Tuesday (JAX) or Wednesday (Envigo). Charles River delivers on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The shipments are delivered directly to the vivaria.
  • PLAR husbandry staff will receive, house and verify health status of all incoming shipments. The PI is then notified of the arrival of the animals. The PI and Veterinarian will be notified of any shipping or health concerns. Shipping or health issues will be addressed with the vendor by PLAR Management.
  • Animals must be allowed to acclimate for a minimum of 3 days.

Interinstitutional Transfers

A MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT is required to obtain from or send animals to other institutions not listed on the approved vendor list:

  • Contact the Office of Research Support and Operations to initiate a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA).
  • Complete the Animal Order, Import, Export Request form.
  • The veterinarian will contact the other institution to exchange health reports and to determine the requirements for receiving/shipping animals.
  • Depending on the health status of incoming animals, it may be necessary to have the animals delivered to Pullman for quarantine and/or rederivation.
  • The cost of shipping, quarantine, and rederivation is the responsibility of the principal investigator.

For additional information, please see: