NIH OLAW FAQs Flashcards
Should institutions apply the PHS Policy to all animal activities regardless of the source of funding?
Institutions must implement the PHS Policy for all PHS supported activities involving animals, and must ensure that any standards that might not be consistent with PHS Policy do not affect or pose risks to PHS supported activities.
It is permissible for institutions to delineate animal areas that are programmatically and functionally separate and that do not support PHS animal activities such as a herd of beef cattle used for food production or a stable of riding horses. The Assurance should explicitly reflect the exclusion of any specific area or activity.
Does the PHS Policy apply to the production of custom antibodies or to the purchase of surgically modified animals?
Yes, activity involving vertebrate animals and covered by PHS Policy. Antibodies are considered customized if produced using antigen(s) provided by or at the request of the investigator (i.e., not purchased off-the-shelf).
An organization producing custom antibodies for an awardee must have or obtain an Assurance, or be included as a component of the awardee’s Assurance.
Yes, surgery conducted in response to a specific, custom request is covered by the PHS Policy. An organization conducting custom surgery for an awardee must have or obtain an Assurance, or be included as a component of the awardee’s Assurance.
Does the PHS Policy apply to use of animal tissue or materials obtained from dead animals?
The use of dead animals or parts of animals is not covered by the PHS Policy unless the activity involves:
(1) killing animals for the purpose of obtaining or using their tissues or other materials. (2) project-specific antemortem manipulation of animals prior to killing them.
Does the PHS Policy apply to live embryonated eggs?
Although avian and other egg-laying vertebrate species develop backbones prior to hatching, OLAW interprets the PHS Policy as applicable to their offspring only after hatching. The egg-laying adult animal is covered by the Policy. OLAW expects Assured institutions to have policies and procedures in place that address the care or euthanasia of animals that hatch unexpectedly.
Does the PHS Policy apply to larval forms of amphibians and fish?
Yes, larval forms of fish and amphibians have vertebrae and are covered by the PHS Policy.
