Dear colleagues:

 Most of the discussions I've seen from this  group seem to be about IRB
issues but I'm hoping members may also have experience with dealing with
IACUC matters so here is my inquiry:

 There are only a few projects using laboratory animals
conducted at my institution but at least one of them involves monoclonal
antibody production using the mouse ascites method.  Having received the
November 17, 1997 OPRR Report on this subject that emphasizes the
responsibility of the IACUC to critically evaluate all protocols that
include this procedure and to assure that if the in vivo method is
proposed, that it is adequately justified over an in vitro one, we would
like to get some feed-back about how other IACUCs are addressing this
situation.  Are any faced with having to reevaluate how their committee
reviews these types of studies?  For those institutions which already have
a restrictive policy about using the ascites method, what do you require
from the investigator to justify using the procedure vs. the in vitro
method?  When granting approval to conduct the ascites procedure how
closely are the mice monitored from a veterinary standpoint; what
provisions are imposed with regard to how often an animal can be "tapped";
must the animal be anesthetized,  and what criteria are used to determine
when an animal must be euthanatized to be humane?

Thanks for any insights you can provide.
Carol A. Rodlun
Program Manager -- RSSP
E214B Animal Sciences Bldg.
1120 West Maple St.
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
e-mail  xxxxxx@comp.uark.edu
ph. (501) 575-2994
fax (501) 575-7294