In a previous article, we discussed how real-time tracking of cages and animals in a lab animal facility can lead to significant cost savings. Beyond financial benefits, accurate data offers significant additional advantages, particularly in the realm of compliance with, and reporting for, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols.

Real-Time IACUC Protocol Compliance

A critical component of lab animal facility management is ensuring that animal usage numbers are continually monitored against the limits imposed by approved IACUC protocols. Mosaic Vivarium provides real-time tracking allowing researchers to see their animal usage as it approaches these protocol limits.

This visibility is crucial for better planning, especially when an amendment might be necessary. Since amendments require time for approval, having advance notice can prevent delays in research activities.

Importantly, protocol tracking in Mosaic Vivarium happens during normal activities guided by the software user interface. This means researchers do not need to explicitly count (or guess!) animal usage numbers.

Streamlined Animal Tracking and Procurement

Mosaic Vivarium tracks animals onto an IACUC protocol as soon as they arrive from a vendor or are born in the facility. The software enforces limits on how many animals a researcher may request to be purchased, eliminating the need for procurement personnel to cross-reference data before approving a purchase request. This automated enforcement reduces the record-keeping burden on procurement personnel, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks.

Bridging the Gap Between Protocols and Daily Operations

In many facilities, the generation and approval of IACUC protocols are seen as separate activities from the daily operations of the animal facility. While this separation is technically accurate, it fails to address how the basic compliance and reporting components of IACUC protocols will be accomplished. The actual usage of research animals must be tracked and validated against protocol limits to ensure basic compliance.

Many facilities purchase software with a focus on producing IACUC protocols, treating compliance and reporting as an afterthought. Even when compliance and reporting are considered, the focus remains on the IACUC software, not on daily animal facility operations required for tracking.

Frequently, this results in the adoption of software “modules” for daily operations that were developed or acquired as an afterthought by the IACUC software vendor. This experience leads to frustration among facility staff and often fails to improve IACUC compliance and reporting.

A Comprehensive Solution with Mosaic Vivarium

In contrast, Mosaic Vivarium has been designed from the ground up to integrate seamlessly with any IACUC software and ensure compliance through real-time tracking of operations. The minimal integration points with IACUC software are straightforward:

• the protocol name/number
• the allowed number of animals for each species
• and the valid duration of the protocol.

From there, Mosaic Vivarium tracks animal usage, enforces limits on procurement and breeding requests, and reports back to the IACUC software periodically.

The result is a complete solution that not only streamlines daily operations but also enhances compliance and reporting. Facility staff can focus on their core responsibilities without being bogged down by administrative tasks, knowing that Mosaic Vivarium is ensuring adherence to IACUC protocols.

Ready to learn more about how Mosaic Vivarium can help your facility?
Schedule a free demonstration today!