Application for Use of Radionuclides in Vertebrate Animals (Form 99a)

FORM 99A Refer to the University Radiation Safety Regulations, or call a Health Physicist at the Environment, Health & Safety Department (5-5000) for assistance completing this application.

New radionuclide applicants must also submit Form 99, APPLICATION FOR POSSESSION AND USE OF RADIONUCLIDES 

RADIONUCLIDES IN VERTEBRATE ANIMALS (Form 99A)

  • RARC Approval - Before this application can be processed, you must have obtained approval from the Research Animal Resources Center (RARC) for the intended animal use.

  • Uses - Complete table for each radionuclide animal procedure

  • Procedure

  • Rooms

  • Personnel

  • Training

  • Sealed Source Inventory

  • ALARA

  • Contamination Control

  • Airborne

  • Radiation Surveys

  • Radioactive Waste

  • Appendix A: Requirements and Safety Guidelines for Work Involving Unsealed Radioactive Materials in Animals

  • 1.When administering high energy betas or gamma emitters, perform meter survey in rooms where the animal is housed to determine the count rate and exposure levels for appropriate labeling of the room (e.g., Radiation Area).

    2. When administering high energy betas or gamma emitters, perform meter surveys to assure that radiation exposure in all adjacent areas will be within legal limits, less than 100 mrems per year and 2 mrems per hour.

    3. Animal waste, urine, feces, and blood contaminated dressings must be considered as radioactive until the kinetics of all radionuclides are known.

    4. Provide lab personnel to care for the animals. If this cannot be done, animal care personnel must:

    a.Take Radiation Safety for Radiation Workers (both parts are required)

    Part I is an on-line training class with a quiz at the end.

    Part II is an in-person training.

    b. Be shown a dummy or "dead" source.

    c. Inform the authorized user and the Office of Radiation Safety if sources seem/become loose, if animal is bleeding, etc.

    d. Be shown how to care for the animal and what they may and may not do.

    e. Be shown how to use a radiation survey meter.

    5. The animal must be marked and must be disposed of through the O.R.S. upon death or sacrifice.
  • Please add any additional comments in the text box below:
  • Appendix B Requirements and Safety Guidelines for Work Involving Radioactive Sealed Sources in Animals

  • For each protocol involving the use of sealed sources in animals, the authorized user must:

    1. Maintain an adequate source inventory system to account for all sources.

    2. Perform meter survey in rooms where the animal is housed to determine the exposure levels for appropriate labeling of the room(e.g., Radiation Area).

    3. Perform meter surveys to assure that radiation exposure in all adjacent areas are within legal limits, less than 100 mrem per year and 2 mrem per hour.

    4. Survey animal waste before disposal, or hold the waste until the end of the experiment when all the sources have been accounted. Survey all materials before they are removed from the animal housing room to insure no sources have been dislodged.

    5. Survey animals with a sensitive survey meter after the sources have been removed as a double check.

    6. Provide lab personnel to care for the animals. If this cannot be done, animal care personnel must:

    a.Take Radiation Safety for Radiation Workers (both parts are required)

    Part I is an on-line training class with a quiz at the end.

    Part II is an in-person training.


    b. Be shown a dummy or "dead" source.

    c. Inform the authorized user and the Office of Radiation Safety if sources seem/become loose, if animal is bleeding, etc.

    d. Be shown how to care for the animal and what they may and may not do.

    e. Be shown how to use a radiation survey meter.

    7. If animal is moved to a different authorized room/area/cage, survey the vacant room/area/cage to confirm that no sources have been left in the old room/area/cage.

    8. The animals must be marked until the sources are tested for leakage. If the sources are found to be leaking, the animal must remain marked (radioactive) and must be disposed of through the O.R.S. upon death or sacrifice.

    I agree to abide by all applicable items listed above.

  • Appendix C Source Inventory System for Radioactive Implants in Animals

  • The sources must be counted and inventoried at least each time the animal(s) are moved from one room/area/cage to another room/area/cage while the sources are still in the animal.

    If the sources are not visible while they are in the animal, the sources should be inventoried as follows:

    a. At the time the animal is to be moved, position the animal or survey meter so that the sources are facing the radiation survey meter. Survey meter must be sensitive to the radiation emitted.

    b. Measure the exposure or count rate at a specific distance from the sources. Record the exposure or count rate, the distance, and the position of the animal with respect to the meter. Other sources in the room should be shielded or positioned away from the meter so there is no interference that they do not interfere with the meter readings.

    c. Repeat the above steps immediately after the animal has been moved to another room/area/cage. Record the results and compare the meter reading before and after the move. If the exposure or count rate has decreased or changed significantly (5 - 10%), a source may have been dropped. Secure all areas where the animal has traveled through and immediately notify the Office of Radiation Safety.
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  • I agree to abide by all applicable items listed above.
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