Animal Care Facility Access

Any individual seeking access to the animal care facility must have a justifiable reason. They must meet at least one of the following descriptions to have total access into the facility:

  • A principal investigator, co-investigator, research assistant or student listed on an IACUC-approved protocol
  • A member of the IACUC or ACF staff
  • Designated emergency personnel
  • Institutional Official for Animal Care
  • Federal, state, or local inspecting agencies

If at least one of the descriptions above has been met, the following steps must be taken to obtain access to the facility:

  1. New faculty must have an approved IACUC protocol to obtain access to the facility. Students must be listed on a faculty-sponsored IACUC protocol under the "Personnel" section. If they are not, the student must be added to the protocol via email request submitted to regulatoryservices@uta.edu or iacuc@uta.edu by the faculty Principal Investigator.
  2. Faculty and students seeking access to the Animal Facility must complete the Medical Health Questionnaire (MHQ) and immunization requirements. For instructions, please click here. Please note that new protocols and amendments cannot be approved until training requirements have been met.
  3. Once an individual is listed on an IACUC-approved protocol (or has been added via email request from the PI) and has completed all training and immunization requirements, they can contact the Animal Care Facility Manager to schedule an appointment. During this appointment, a photo ID badge will be created (this is different than the MavCard) and the individual's MavCard will be activated for access to the animal facility.
  4. Rules and Terms of Access
    Access Requirements can be divided into four groups:
    A. Research Personnel.  Individuals handling or performing work with animals:
        i. Must be added as personnel to a protocol.  The PI (not a student or other lab personnel) must send an email to regulatoryservices@uta.edu or iacuc@uta.edu with the access request.
        ii. The individual must complete assigned online training, ACF hands-on training with ACF Manager, and complete enrollment in the occupational health and safety program.
        iii. Full procedure for access/authorization to work with animals: authorization-instructions
    B. Visitors Observing.  Individuals observing animal procedures or entering animals rooms:
        i. The PI is responsible for complying with the Visitors Policy for these individuals (see below).
        ii. The individual must complete enrollment in the occupational health and safety program.
        iii. Prior to performing any procedures or handling/touching animals, individuals must complete the requirements for Research Personnel in Part A above.
    C. Visitors Touring.  Individuals touring the facility (potential faculty hires, UTA staff):
        i. The department is responsible for complying with the Visitors Policy for these individuals (see below).
        ii. These individuals may not enter any animal rooms.
    D. Minors.  Visitors or research personnel that are minors:
        i. Minors are prohibited from entering the facility at any time and for any purpose, unless an exception is granted under UTA’s Policy 5-308, Minors in Laboratories or Similar Facilities.
        ii. To obtain an exception to Policy 5-308, the PI or department must first obtain approval for the minor from the IACUC, EH&S, and the Vice President for Research.

Policy for Visitors (Individuals Touring the Facility or Observing Animal Procedures)

  1. The faculty sponsor must approve of the visit and escort the visitor to the facility.
  2. The visit must be for a justifiable reason.
  3. The Animal Facility Manager (817-272-5236 or acf@uta.edu) must be contacted in advance for approval.  The Visitor is required to sign-in with the ACF Manager and be issued a special Visitor Pass.
  4. Visitors must be accompanied by ACF staff into the facility unless the guest will be accompanied by an authorized Principal Investigator for the length of the visit. A Visitor may not be left alone at any time without the Principal Investigator or ACF staff.
  5. The visit must be for a brief time period and the visitor must not appear as if they are collaborating or working on any animal research protocol (individuals conducting work with animals must be listed as personnel on a UTA IACUC-approved protocol).
  6. The visit must take place during normal business hours, between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
  7. The visitor must wear the Visitor Pass at all times inside the Facility.
  8. The Visitor Pass must be returned to the ACF Manager at the end of the visit. These passes are numbered and individuals will be contacted if a pass is not returned.
  9. Any unauthorized personnel found in the Animal Care Facility will be escorted out by Campus Police.

ACF Safety Information

  1. Food and beverages are not allowed for storage or consumption anywhere in the Facility except in the designated lounge area located near the front entrance of the Facility.
  2. Do not prop open any doors in the Facility. A silent alarm will be activated and Campus Police will automatically respond.
  3. For animal health emergencies, phone contact lists are posted at the entrance and exit of the facilities.
  4. All chemical Safety Data Sheets are online in CEMS and are maintained by EH&S.