This is a reminder to animal users that all anesthetized animals must be observed until they fully recover from anesthesia. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states that "...animals should be in a clean, dry and comfortable area where they can be observed frequently by trained personnel". Failure to adequately monitor animals recovering from anesthesia is a serious noncompliance issue that must be reported to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-034.html.

Please remind your students and staff members to always monitor animals after anesthesia until they have fully recovered. If an emergency occurs such that an animal monitor must leave before an animal is fully awake, and a replacement is not available, personnel in the facility where the animals are housed must be notified. A new monitor must be in place before the original monitor leaves.

If you have any questions please contact the IACUC Office or the IACUC Chair.

Frank Jenkins, Ph.D.
IACUC Chair