IACUC Policy:
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
- Confirmatory methods include, but are not limited to:
- 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)
- Confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
- Confirmatory methods for animals older than 14 days of age include, but are not limited to:
- 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
- Confirmatory methods for neonates 14 days of age or younger (less than 14 days of age) include, but are not limited to:
- Decapitation
- Preferred confirmatory method
- Thoracotomy
- Vital tissue harvest (inclusive of heart, lungs, and/or brain)
- Continued exposure to CO2
- This method is discouraged as neonates are more resistant to CO2 hypoxia
- 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
Xenopus
- A physical confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
- Confirmatory methods of euthanasia following an overdose of anesthesia:
- Decapitation
- must be confirmed by double pithing
- Cervical section
- must be confirmed by double pithing
- Removal of heart
Zebrafish
- Confirmation of euthanasia is required following a primary method of euthanasia
- Confirmatory methods for Zebrafish 8 days post fertilization (dpf) and older include, but are not limited to:
-
- Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
- Decapitation
- Confirmatory methods for Zebrafish 4-7 dpf include, but are not limited to:
-
- Observation of no opercular movements for at least 10 minutes following anesthetic overdose or chilling
- Decapitation
- Confirmatory methods for Zebrafish 0-3 dpf include, but are not limited to:
- Exposure to a dilute (1-10%) sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite solution
References
- " AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition" AVMA.org., 2020.
Last Reviewed by the IACUC 6/10/2020