Policies, Guidelines and Procedures

This page contains CMS Policies, Guidelines, and Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for the Boston and Medford campuses. Policies must be followed while working within CMS facilities. Non-compliance may result in revoking of access to the animal facility.

Administrative

• Per Diem Cover Memo
• Per Diem Rates
• Approved Vendors

Animal Acquisition

• Approved Vendors List
• Animal Ordering and Cage Card Requests
• Guidelines for Rodent Importation
• Guidelines for Rodent Exportation
• Animal Imports & Exports

Animal Husbandry and Euthanasia

• Guidelines for Rodent Husbandry Provided by Investigative Staff
• Policy on the Provision of Food and Water to Animals
• Policy for Rodent Overcrowded Cage Separations by Tufts CMS/LAMS/CBU Staff
• Guidelines for ABSL2 Suite Use
• Policy for Euthanizing Rodents with Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Barcoded Cage Cards – Topaz Elements
• Animal Husbandry Info for Publication
• Tufts CMS Excluded Agents in Rodents

Animal Health Checks/Evaluation

• Guidelines for Rodent Health Checks by Investigative Staff
• Animal Health Checks and Procedures for Requesting or Requiring Euthanasia
• Guidelines on Body Condition Scoring
• Commonly Used Abbreviations for Health Concerns

Anesthesia, Analgesia, Surgery, and Thermoregulation

• DEA Controlled Substances for Researchers
• Guidelines for the Utilization of Anesthetics and Analgesics in Small Laboratory Animals
• Buprenorphine-SR-LAB Administration Instructions
• SOP for the Benchtop Isoflurane Anesthesia Machine
• SOP for the Portable Isoflurane Anesthesia Machine
• Policy on Approved Thermoregulatory Devices for Rodents
• Policy for Tips Only Rodent Surgery

Other Animal Research Procedures

• Tufts CMS/LAMS/CBU Guidelines for Blood Collection, Injectable Volumes, and Needle Sizing

Humane Endpoints

• Guidelines for the Determination of Humane Endpoints for Animals Used in Research
• Guidelines on Humane Endpoints of Tumors in Mice and Rats

More Guides

• Chemical & Biological Safety
• Rodent Breeding Service Researcher Information
• Veterinary Services Researcher Information
• Husbandry and Operations Research Information

IACUC Policies

CMS services are governed by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee policies.