Mercurio Diagnostic Laboratory (MDL), a laboratory that carried out diagnostic tests on human and environmental samples, was located next to Great Eastern University. MDL was unaffiliated with the school and received no federal funding. The laboratory required laboratory mice for certain diagnostic tests. The mice were purchased for MDL by Great Eastern and housed at the school until they were needed. MDL had a protocol in place for the mice that was previously approved by the Great Eastern IACUC, but because the tests were acute (i.e., the animals were given an injection of a test substance and were euthanized or died soon afterwards), the mice used for testing were brought directly from the Great Eastern animal facility to MDL, where they were used within an hour of their arrival.

When the MDL protocol came up for renewal, Dr. Larry Covelli, the Great Eastern IACUC chair, wondered about the arrangement with the lab.

“What's the big deal, Larry?” asked Betty Carruthers, the IACUC manager. “We've approved this protocol for years without any problems, so why are you concerned now?”

“I don't know,” he responded, “it just seems like we're playing with fire. We're doing this to be good neighbors, but what if somebody at MDL violates the protocol? We would never know that. We would never know if they used the mice for a different test or never even used them and gave them to some kids for pets. We just don't know.”

“I'm not sure about that,” said Carruthers. “We look at their records when we do the semiannual lab inspections, and they seem to do everything by the book. If they were trying to cheat on us, I don't think they would be as open and cooperative as they are.”

“Maybe they don't know any better,” said Covelli. “Maybe they just think they need an IACUC-approved protocol. Do you think it would be better if we just purchase the animals when they need them and have them delivered directly to MDL by the vendor? That way, the mice wouldn't ever be on campus and we wouldn't have to review a protocol.”

“If you want to go that far,” Carruthers responded, “why not tell MDL to order the mice themselves directly from a mouse vendor? That way we don't have to get involved at all.”

“Maybe you're right,” said Covelli.

Covelli is becoming concerned that Great Eastern's 'good neighbor' policy may not be so good for the school. Does MDL need IACUC approval from Great Eastern for its current arrangement with the school? Would it need an IACUC-approved protocol from Great Eastern if the school did as Covelli suggested, ordering the animals and having them delivered to MDL? What arrangement would you prefer to see between Great Eastern and MDL?

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Two choices

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Clarify terms of agreement

Response to Protocol Review Scenario: Good neighbor or not?