Visitor Guidelines

Guidance for non-University of Pittsburgh personnel utilizing animal models or entering dedicated DLAR animal housing and use space

The University of Pittsburgh (University) recognizes there are various circumstances where non-University personnel collaborate on projects utilizing University animals. Additionally, there are circumstances where both University and non-University personnel need access to University animal housing and use spaces.  This guidance document is meant to serve as a resource for those requesting such access.

All visitors and hosts must review and complete University requirements for visitors. Please see additional Information to complete this process.

Any person having direct contact with an animal at the University must be listed on an approved University IACUC Protocol.  For non-University personnel, the following steps must occur:

  1. A University of Pittsburgh or UPMC active email account is required to access the ARO (Animal Research Online) system. To obtain a University email account, a sponsored account is required.  Information on obtaining a sponsored account is found here.
  2. Once an account is an established, required training is completed though CITI. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and the Working with Large and/or Small Animal courses are required, in addition to any species-specific modules related to the animal model(s) in the protocol. Details are found here.
  3. In addition to IACUC training, EH&S requirements must also be met. Details on these requirements are found here.
  4. Once all IACUC and EH&S training and health surveillance requirements are fulfilled, the study team Principal Investigator (PI) may now add you to a new or existing IACUC protocol. Instructions for adding a person to a protocol are found here. The PI receives notification once the addition has been approved.

Any person not working with or handling animals (University personnel or not) requiring access to a University faculty housing animals is considered a “visitor”. This includes anyone who is not listed on an active IACUC protocol for the site in question or a person who does not have explicit approval to enter animal housing or use spaces as part of their job function. Examples of those having approval as part of their job function include DLAR animal care staff, approved safety and facilities management personnel, etc... Visitors must be escorted while in an animal facility. The use of someone else’s ID badge to gain access to an animal facility is prohibited and may lead to loss of animal use privileges for those loaning their badge as well as future prohibitions for those who entered using the badge. The EH&S Handbook recognizes two classifications of visitors:

Visitor with Prolonged Exposure – A person who enters the facility with an escort 4 times or more within 30 days and does not have direct contact with an animal on any entry.

Visitor with Minimal/Limited Exposure – A person who enters the facility with an escort 3 times or less within 30 days and does not have direct contact with an animal on any entry.

To obtain University approval as a visitor as defined in either case above, the following steps must be taken:

  1. Permission must be obtained from the University Attending Veterinarian (Dr. Amy Cassano; phone: 412-648-8950; email: cassano@pitt.edu) and any applicable scientific director prior to bringing any visitors into animal housing or dedicated animal procedural or surgical areas of this University.
  2. Visitors must review and complete the necessary requirements of the relevant EH&S SOP found here.

Special cases:

  1. Visitors for training purposes: More limited training may be substituted for standard training for individuals coming in direct contact with animals for training purposes, as part of a course. The content of this training will be determined by the IACUC. Instructors of courses employing animals should contact the IACUC Training Coordinator, (email: cgubish@pitt.edu; phone: 412-383-1737), far in advance of the course so that the training requirements for the students can be assessed.
  2. Visitors who enter any animal housing or use areas where radiological or biohazardous conditions (Biosafety Level 2 or above) exist must also complete a limited training program regarding occupational health and safety concerns and personal protection. To receive instructions on arranging for this training, please contact the IACUC Training Coordinator (email: cgubish@pitt.edu; phone: 412-383-1737), as far in advance of the visit as possible.
  3. Visitors to any IACUC-approved large animal surgical facility must also complete a limited training program. For instructions on arranging for this training, contact the IACUC Training Coordinator (email: cgubish@pitt.edu; phone: 412-383-1737), as far in advance of the visit as possible. This training will include instruction on occupational health and safety concerns and personal protection if the individual will enter a surgical suite where biohazardous conditions exist (e.g., surgery on a nonhuman primate).