The Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium- Capacity Building Committee recently conducted a “Training Workshop on Animal Handling and Laboratory Facility Registration and Accreditation” to promote ethical and proper care and use of experimental animals for scientific research and testing. This is in line with the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and its corresponding implementing rules and regulations on the conduct of scientific procedures using quality laboratory animals (DA-AO No. 40). It is also intended to assist CLHRDC research institutions to establish their respective Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC).
The lectures were held at the Imerex Plaza Hotel, Angeles City, Pampanga while the workshop was held at Holy Angel University- Laboratory last October 26-27, 2017. It was attended by 30 participants from 13 member-institutions of CLHRDC. Dr. Maria Amelita C. Estacio and Dr. Melissa Marie R. Rondina, President and Secretary of the Philippine Association for Animal Laboratory Science (PALAS) were the key resource persons during the 2-day activity.
The training provided the participants the basics on the proper handling and care of laboratory animals, most commonly, mice, by following the standards designed to ensure comfort and safety of laboratory animals. Through the actual demonstration and hands-on training, the participants were able to perform some laboratory techniques such as drug administration, blood collection via different routes (intracardiac and intraorbital) and euthanasia.
Also part of the training workshop was an orientation on the requirements of IACUC accreditation, qualifications and responsibilities of its members and the process of protocol review before conducting researches involving animals.
The participants and CBC members together with Dr. Estacio and Dr. Rondina