IACUC Policy on Vaporizer Calibration and Maintenance
Purpose:
Anesthesia machines and vaporizers must be in good working conditions to reduce anesthetic gas leaks, to ensure the best performance of scavenging equipment, and to provide the appropriate percentage of anesthetic delivery. Personnel must be trained in the proper use of anesthetic machines and vaporizers prior to operations; CCM should be contacted to arrange for training. Vaporizer scavenging must also be evaluated; EH&S should be contacted to arrange for an evaluation.
Action:
- Accuracy of anesthetic agent ouput from a precision vaporizer must be verified annually or any time the vaporizer has not been in service for more than a year. If the verified deliver is ± 15% out of calibration of the target value, the unit must be serviced by qualified personnel or company.
- CCM will maintain a list of vaporizers for a yearly calibration and arrange for the calibration to be performed. The CCM Vet staff will send an initial e-mail, followed by remainder notification to all users regarding the scheduled time/date of calibration. It is the responsibility of the PI to pay for this service. If the PI couldn’t avail that scheduled time for calibration; then they have to schedule on their own.
- Isoflurane vaporizers may not be used with any other inhalant anesthetic.
- The vaporizer must be maintained in an upright position to indicate liquid levels accurately.
- Use compressed O2 USP (99.99% Pure), supplied by Carrier gas.
- If charcoal canisters are used for scavenging, record the amount of time in use or the canister weight after each use (initial weight of canister should be written on the canister). Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for the use of the canister regarding when it requires replacement. Canisters typically must be discarded after either 12 hours of use or a 50g increase in weight. Used canisters are considered hazardous waste. When disposing them, place them in a sealed plastic bag or cover the holes with tape to avoid off-gassing. Then add it to your satellite accumulation area for pickup by EH&S .
- If the vaporizer is used in a chemical fume hood so that the released gas outlets to the inside of the hood, there is no requirement for a charcoal filter to be used.
Effective Dates: December 18, 2025 through December 31, 2028
This policy has been approved by a majority vote of the IACUC members.
IACUC Policy on Veterinary Consultation Regarding the Use of Animals on which Pain Category D and/or E Procedures are to be Performed
Purpose: Regulations require that procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight distress to animals will involve, in the planning state, consultation with the Attending Veterinarian (AV) or their designee. This policy is implemented to ensure compliance with the federal mandate when a Principal Investigator (PI) is using animals in a procedure classified as pain category D and/or E.
Action:
- The PI, or their designee, shall consult with the AV during writing, and prior to submitting, an IACUC protocol.
- The AV shall complete a protocol review worksheet when consulting with the PI.
- The worksheet, and future modifications to it, shall require approval by the IACUC.
- The completed worksheet shall be co-signed by both the AV and the PI after the consultation process is completed.
- A copy of the worksheet will be given to the PI.
- An electronic copy of the worksheet shall be uploaded (electronically attached) to any protocol submission falling under this policy. The worksheet shall be appended in section 4.2.1.7- “Mandatory Veterinary Consultation for Pain/Distress Categories D and E”.
- Any protocol submitted without a completed consultation worksheet will be returned to the PI without review.
Effective Dates: December 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025
This policy has been approved by a majority vote of the IACUC members.
Health Center Research Advisory Council
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6403
For questions or comments about the HCRAC please contact one of the following individuals.
Application Guidelines and Instructions
This program has been established to support travel costs for postdoctoral fellows who present research results in-person at scientific meetings and symposia. The program will support costs of that travel up to a limit of $700 per fiscal year. Note, HCRAC travel funds cannot be combined with any other UConn travel support.
Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis, until the funds for this program have been exhausted.
Eligibility
- Eligibility for this program is restricted to UConn Health postdoctoral fellows whose faculty preceptor for research is based at UConn Health and contributes their indirect costs to UConn Health.
- Applicants must be first author on a research abstract and present a corresponding poster or talk; the topic must be central to postdoctoral research performed at UConn Health.
- Postdocs may only receive one travel grant in a given year .
If there are any questions about this travel grant program, please contact Stephanie Holden at 860.679.2513 or sholden@uchc.edu.
