Animals used in studies involving biohazardous agents, such as viral vectors, infectious diseases and zoonotic diseases, must be housed in special containment facilities. On the main campus, all studies using biohazardous agents rated Animal Biosafety Level 2 or higher will be housed in special rooms in the Basic Science Building or Clinical Teaching Facility in Hillcrest.
Before approval to house animals is granted, an approved animal-use protocol must be on file with the Animal Welfare Program Office and biohazardous use authorization must be obtained from EH&S http://www-ehs.ucsd.edu/ and/or the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). These approvals must be in writing.
All personnel working with biohazardous agents in animals will be knowledgeable and trained in biosafety practices and procedures consistent with the IBC approval for the specific project(s) prior to admittance to the animal room.
After necessary approvals have been granted, all personnel requiring access to biohazard room attend a joint project coordination meeting with ACP/EH&S personnel. At the end of each meeting, a project sheet will be generated, outlining special project requirements, meeting attendees, persons authorized to enter animal room and emergency phone numbers. This project sheet is kept on file in vivarium office and in the office of the ACP Biosafety Coordinator and serves as a contract that these agreements will adhered to while occupying this room. One room key per lab will be issued after completion of this meeting.
Each new project or agent will require new approvals as outlined above and another project meeting.
To arrange for housing for animals involved in biohazardous studies, call extension 25687.
