Reporting and monitoring
Adverse events
Adverse events are all unexpected animal deaths or any adverse or unforeseen circumstances that may impact on animal wellbeing and which must be reported promptly to the AEC (ref Code 2.2.28).
Annual reporting
Annual reporting is necessary on all projects approved by the University of Adelaide AEC. All approvals are conditional on provision of a statistics report and an annual progress report to the AEC.
Monitoring
The AEC may make random inspections of animal holding facilities, laboratories and experiments in order to determine compliance with the approval conditions.
The Animal Welfare Officer may inspect animal holding areas and laboratories and generally monitor the transportation, condition and treatment of animals to ensure compliance with prescribed codes of practice and with the requirements of the AEC, as well as respond to emergencies with respect to the conditions of animal use.
Breeding Colony - Additional Monitoring, Record Keeping and Reporting
Investigators maintaining breeding colonies of animals are required to maintain animal production records and provide the AEC with annual Animal Statistics Reports.
Example animal breeding record spreadsheets may be of assistance.
Genetically Modified Animals - Additional Monitoring, Record Keeping and Reporting
The Investigator will report in a timely manner to the AEC on the phenotype* of any genetically modified animal strain that is used as part of a scientific project via the (1) Phenotype Report.
(*phenotype: the sum of the physical, behavioural and physiological characteristics of an animal)
This will require timely submission of records of clinical observations made on a representative sample of the animals, using the (2) GM Animal Clinical Record Sheet and the (3) GM Litter Monitoring Sheet as appropriate.
Following consideration of the information, the AEC may approve further use of the strain or may request a revision of the proposal.
In addition to the Phenotype Report, the requirement to promptly report unexpected occurences of animal morbidity or mortality to the AEC applies to these projects.
Investigators maintaining breeding colonies of genetically modified animals are required to maintain animal productions records and provide the AEC with annual Animal Statistics Reports.
Example animal breeding record spreadsheets may be of assistance.
