Rodent Training

 

 

Training Schedule

Note: Registration deadline is 5 working days prior to the available wet lab.

 

Registration Process

STEP 1: Complete the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM to reserve your preferred lab training date and time:

  • To prevent delays, please ensure that the form is complete.
  • Registration deadline is 5 working days prior to the available wet lab.
  • Please allow the Training Coordinator 3 working days to coordinate your registration.
  • You will receive a copy of the registration form by email within 10 minutes of submitting. If you do not receive a copy of the registration form, contact the Training Coordinator.
  • If you are a previous animal user returning to animal use after an extended period of not handling animals (typically 6 months or longer), you will be required to repeat the Orientation Online Tutorial (Module 3), the Handling Online Tutorial (Module 4) and be assessed for animal handling proficiency.

STEP 2: The Training Coordinator will review the training request and take into consideration the following prior to finalizing the training registration:

  • The technique requested is described on the approved protocol or approved protocol amendment that is indicated on the registration form
  • How often is the technique will be used vs the duration of the training required to gain proficiency
  • The duration of the training required to gain proficiency in the requested technique vs the duration of the course/employment commitment

If concerns are recognized, they will be communicated to your PI.

STEP 3: The Training Coordinator will send a confirmation email request to your Primary Investigator (PI) for approval

STEP 4: The Training Coordinator will email you the following information:

  • Your confirmed training date(s)
  • Details on your registered lab training session
  • Login information for the required online tutorial(s) (see Course Information below)
  • Note: All prerequisites must be completed no later than 1pm on the day prior to your reserved date of training

Course Information

Mandatory modules

Online tutorial

Information on how to prevent workplace injuries resulting from storage and use of hazardous products.

  • Prerequisites: None
  • Quiz: 70% to pass
  • Allow 2 hours to complete

Online tutorial (also known as Part 1)

Ethics, guidelines, regulations and safety information.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval
  • Quiz: 80% to pass
  • Allow 4 - 6 hours to complete.

Online tutorial

Facility regulation, personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination process, working alone, campus accident/incident reporting and submission of a short assignment on your personal view on the use of animals in research.

Note: Individuals that require access to the Rodent Research Facility and will not be working with animals, need to register for the Orientation Lab on the registration form.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval
  • Quiz: 85% to pass
  • Allow 2 hours to complete

Rat Handling

Upon successful completion of Module 5, you will receive the Rat Handling Certification.

3R's, history, biology, breeding, husbandry, common health concerns & diseases, sex determination, identification, recognizing pain and distress, endpoints, handling, restraint, safety concerns, cage cards and colony management program.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-3
  • Quiz: 70% to pass
  • Allow 3 hours to complete

This lab will allow you to familiarize yourself with the species to gain confidence in handling them. Topics discussed will include facility orientation and regulations, humane handling, common methods for identifying animals, sex determination and performing a health assessment.

You will be required to show competency in sex determination, health assessment and humane handling of the rat prior to receiving certification.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-4

Mouse Handling

Upon successful completion of Module 5, you will receive the Mouse Handling Certification.

3R's, history, biology, breeding, husbandry, common health concerns & disease, sex determination, identification, recognizing pain and distress, endpoints, handling, restraint, safety concerns, cage cards and colony management program.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-3
  • Quiz: 70% to pass
  • Allow 3 hours to complete

This lab will allow you to familiarize yourself with the species and gain confidence in handling them. Topics discussed will include facility orientation and regulations, common methods for identifying animals, humane handling, sex determination and performing a health assessment.

You will be required to show competency in sex determination, health assessment and humane handling of the mouse prior to receiving certification.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-4

Rodent Surgical & Post-Op Care Assistant

The purpose of this course is to prepare you with the skills and knowledge to assist a certified surgeon during surgery and during post-operative care. Upon successful completion of Module 7, you will receive Rodent Surgical & Post-Op Care Assistant Certification.  

Instrument care, preparing surgical packs, autoclave use, preparing the surgery suite,  asepsis, anaesthesia, analgesia, anaesthetic monitoring & surgical recovery, recording and documentation.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-5 
  • Quiz: 80% to pass
  • Allow 4 hours to complete

This lab will review all of the topics covered in Module 6 in a format that allows you to practice all techniques required for assisting in surgery and post-operative care. Please note that this course is a 2 DAY course.  Participation in both days in required.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 1-6 & 12 (Subcutaneous (SC) Injections)

Rodent Basic Surgery Course

The purpose of this course is to prepare the student with the skills and knowledge to complete anaesthesia and surgery unsupervised.  Until certification is achieved, the student is expected to work under direct supervision by a Certified surgeon while performing surgery, anaesthesia and post-op care (where applicable). Upon successful completion of Modules 8, 9 & 10 below, the student will receive Rodent Surgical proficiency Certification.

Gowning and gloving, asepsis, wound healing, sterile tip procedure, sterotaxic basics, incision, skull preparation basics and suturing.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 7
  • Allow 4 hours to complete

This lab will review all topics covered in Module 8 in a format that allows you to practice all techniques required for an introduction to surgery. You will be provided with a checklist of expectations to prepare for the competency review (Module 12). Please note that this course is a 2 DAY course.  Participation in both days in required.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 8 &  1 month handling experience with the relative species

The purpose of the review is to ensure that you are competent to perform the anaesthesia, surgical procedure, and post-op care (where applicable) without supervision. The University Veterinarian will observe you through the entire anaesthetic, surgical procedure and post-op recovery.

Upon the University Veterinarian's approval, certification will be given to you. Certification is species specific and categorized as: Chronic Stereotax, Acute Stereotax or Other. Certification categories are not transferable to other categories or species.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, Modules 9 

Protocol-Specific/Bio-Methodology Training

Upon successful completion of Module 12, you will receive certification in the Protocol-Specific technique for that species.  The certification is not transferable to other rodent species.

Note: Some techniques contain a higher-level skill content than others and will require more than one formal training session.

Techniques offered in Protocol-Specific/Bio-Methodology Training include but are not limited to the following:

Protocol specific training such as restraint, injections, blood collection, etc..

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, participation in a study that involves the requested technique, Modules 1-5
  • Quiz: 70% to pass

Protocol specific training such as restraint, injections, blood collection, etc.. Proficiency in handling will be required prior to attending the training lab.

You will be required to show competency in the procedure prior to receiving certification.

  • Prerequisites: PI approval, participation in a study that involves the requested technique, Modules 1-5, 11, a minimum of 2 weeks with 5 hours handling experience, can show proficiency in animal handling.
 
For more information on the training programs, contact the Training Coordinator.