Policy: The IACUC has provided a set of guidance documents (Policies, Guidelines, and Informational Sheets) for use when planning animal procedures at the University of Iowa. An exception to a Policy must be described and justified in the Animal Protocol and approved by the full IACUC at a convened monthly meeting.

Purpose: This policy lists the IACUC’s requirements of confirmation of euthanasia.  

The policy requires that any animal euthanized at the University of Iowa must be subject to a confirmatory method of euthanasia.
     
Large Animal Species (i.e. animals weighing > 500 grams of body weight and all Guinea pigs)

• A physical confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
• Examples include:
  • Bilateral thoracotomy
  • Sternotomy
  • Vital tissue harvest (inclusive of heart, lungs, and/or brain)

Small Animal Species (i.e. animals weighing < 500 grams of body weight)

• Example confirmatory methods for animals > 10 days of age include:
  • Cervical dislocation
    • Not acceptable for rats > 200 grams of body weight or hamsters
  • Decapitation
  • Thoracotomy
  • Vital tissue harvest (inclusive of heart, lungs, and/or brain)
  • Continued exposure to CO2 for at least 15 minutes after respiratory arrest
  • For isoflurane euthanasia:
    • If using a vaporizer: a physical method or continued exposure to isoflurane for at least 15 minutes after respiratory arrest is acceptable
    • If using a drop jar: a physical method (cervical dislocation, decapitation, thoracotomy or vital tissue harvest) must be used for confirmation
• Neonates < 10 days of age are more resistant to CO2; therefore, decapitation is the preferred confirmation method

Xenopus

• A physical confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
  • Overdose of anesthesia may be followed by:
    • Decapitation  
    • Cervical section
    • Removal of heart
  • Decapitation or cervical section must be confirmed by double pithing

Zebrafish

• Euthanasia must be confirmed. The following are acceptable confirmations:
  • Zebrafish 8 days post fertilization (dpf) and older​
    • Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
    • Decapitation
  • Zebrafish 4-7 dpf
    • Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
    • Decapitation
  • Zebrafish fry 0-3 dpf
    • The exposure to a dilute (1-10%) sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite solution confirms euthanasia

References
"AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition" AVMA.org., 2013.

Last Updated 6/11/14