Animal Program: Maintenance of Animal (Rodent or Smaller) Guillotines

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Policy Number:
UW-4107
Old Policy Number:
2015-056-v
Responsible Office:
Research Animal Resources and Compliance

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

To provide guidelines, which meet regulatory requirements, for the maintenance and record-keeping of guillotines used for euthanasia of rodents and smaller animals.

Policy:

Animals must be euthanized by trained personnel using appropriate techniques and equipment. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia recommends that guillotines be in good working order and serviced on a regular basis to ensure the sharpness of the blades; the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states that methods of euthanasia should be consistent with the AVMA’s recommendations.

  1. Before use, the guillotine should be inspected to ensure that it is in good working condition, is free of rust, and has a smooth action. Any problems with the device should be reported to the principal investigator who is ultimately responsible for the guillotine.
  2. Personnel using a guillotine are responsible for its proper cleaning after use. Suggested methods include rinsing the device after use in running water with a final rinse with 70% alcohol to promote drying. Guillotines should also be periodically lubricated (a silicone-spray product is suggested for lubrication).
  3. Guillotines must be inspected at a minimum of every 12 months and should be sharpened as often as needed. The frequency of sharpening will depend on the animal species involved and the volume of use. The responsibility to resharpen the guillotine rests with the principal investigator.
  4. Checking to ensure that the guillotine blades are sufficiently sharp is up to the individual lab. A suggested method includes using a fresh carcass of an animal that has been euthanized by a different protocol-approved method of euthanasia.
  5. Principal investigators or their designee(s) must document the dates on which the guillotine was sharpened and tested. It is strongly recommended that each use of the guillotine also be documented. Evidence of maintenance (e.g., a written log) will be inspected on a semiannual basis by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
  6. Blade sharpening can be done by any reputable blade sharpening company such as one that sharpens surgical instruments. For help in identifying a blade sharpening company, contact a Research Animal Resources and Compliance (RARC) veterinarian or the RARC training staff.
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Chief Campus Veterinarian
Policy Manager:
Chief Campus Veterinarian
Contact:
IACUC Administrator -- IACUC Administrator, iacuc_administrator@rarc.wisc.edu, (608) 262-1238
Effective Date:
04-27-2015
Date Issued:
04-27-2015
Reviewed Dates:

09/01/2017

Retrieved:
01-22-2025 21:02:51