Standard Operating Procedures

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provide a detailed description of commonly used techniques. SOPs offer investigators an alternative to writing detailed steps in their Animal Use Protocol (AUP). If referenced within an AUP, any deviation from an SOP must be clearly described and justified in the AUP. Approval of the AUP indicates approval of the deviation for that protocol only.

SOPs are approved by the University Animal Care Committee (UACC).  Refer to the appropriate SOP number and title in the procedural description field within the AUP and include necessary details such as compounds, volumes, frequencies, durations etc. (NOTE: SOPs do not need to be attached to your protocol).

SOPs for commonly used species are listed below. Please follow the link to the Queen's UACC approved SOPs for other species. Access requires registration through the Training Coordinator.

SOP development and revision is an ongoing process. Read all SOPs prior to referencing them in your protocols, as they go through periodic revision. If you require an SOP not currently in the database, contact the University Veterinarian.

For technical assistance, contact the Training Coordinator.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

SOP Policy Type Date Revised
7.1 Pain Management Mice 10/17/2023
7.2 Humane Interventions Mice 10/22/2020
7.3 Aseptic Surgical Techniques Mice 05/01/2022
7.4 Rodent Post-Operative Care Mice 12/06/2021
7.5.1 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via Barbiturate or Injectable Anesthetic Overdose Mice 02/28/2022
7.5.2 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via CO2 Asphyxiation Mice 05/27/2021
7.5.3 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via Overdose of Inhalant Anesthesia Mice 01/23/2023
7.5.4 Euthanasia of Rodents via Physical Methods Mice 02/28/2022
7.5.5 Euthanasia Method for Rodent Neonates and Fetuses Mice 03/07/2023
7.6 Anesthesia Mice 08/08/2022
7.8 Gavage Techniques in Small Animals Mice 02/28/2022
7.9 Intradermal Injection Mice 12/12/2022
7.9.1 Subcutaneous Injection Mice 12/12/2022
7.9.2 Intraperitoneal Injection Mice 12/12/2022
7.10 Submandibular Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.10.1 Saphenous Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.10.2 Submental Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.10.3 Tail Vein Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.10.4 Retro-Orbital Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.10.5 Cardiac Blood Collection Mice 07/18/2022
7.11 Retro-Orbital Injections Mice 02/28/2022
7.12 Rodent Tail Vein Injections Mice 02/28/2022
7.13 Ear Notching for Identification Mice 06/27/2023
7.14 Genotyping Mice 06/27/2023
7.15 Whole Body Perfusion for Small Rodents Mice 12/06/2021
7.17 Acute DSS Colitis Mice 10/17/2023
7.18 Chronic DSS Colitis Mice 10/17/2023
7.19 Clinical Care of Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) Mice 02/28/2022
7.20 Manual Restraint of Mice Mice 02/28/2022
7.22 The Supportive Care of Rodents During Research Procedures Mice 02/28/2022
7.23 Rodent Ultrasound Mice 02/28/2022
7.24 Breeding and Weaning Mice 02/01/2022
7.25 Estrus Cycle Monitoring Mice 01/28/2020
7.26 Intrafemoral Injections Mice 10/31/2022
7.27 Hypoxic Study Mice 11/25/2021
7.29 Dorsal Approach Ovariectomy Mice 11/14/2022
7.30 Orchidectomy Mice 04/17/2023

SOP Policy Type Date Revised
10.1 Pain Management Rats 02/28/2022
10.2 Humane Interventions Rats 02/28/2022
10.3 Aseptic Surgical Techniques Rats 05/01/2022
10.4 Rodent Post-Operative Care Rats 12/06/2021
10.5.1 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via Barbiturate or Injectable Anesthetic Overdose Rats 02/28/2022
10.5.2 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via CO2 Asphyxiation Rats 05/27/2021
10.5.3 Euthanasia of Adult Rodents via Overdose of Inhalant Anesthesia Rats 01/23/2023
10.5.4 Euthanasia of Rodents via Physical Methods Rats 02/28/2022
10.5.5 Euthanasia Method for Rodent Neonates and Fetuses Rats 03/07/2023
10.6 Anesthesia Rats 08/08/2022
10.8 Gavage Techniques in Small Animals Rats 02/28/2022
10.9 Intradermal Injection Rats 12/12/2022
10.9.1 Subcutaneous Injection Rats 12/12/2022
10.9.2 Intraperitoneal Injection Rats 12/12/2022
10.9.3 Intramuscular Injection Rats 12/12/2022
10.10 Saphenous Vein Collection Rats 07/18/2022
10.10.1 Tail Vein Blood CollectionIn Rats 07/18/2022
10.10.2 Jugular Vein Blood Collection Rats 07/18/2022
10.10.3 Cardiac Puncture Blood Collection Rats 07/18/2022
10.11 Stereotaxic Surgery Rats 02/28/2022
10.12 Rodent Tail Vein Injections Rats 02/28/2022
10.13 Ear Notching for Identification Rats 06/27/2023
10.14 Genotyping Rats 06/27/2023
10.15 Whole Body Perfusion for Small Rodents Rats 12/06/2021
10.17 Acute DSS Colitis Rats 10/17/2023
10.18 Chronic DSS Colitis Rats 10/17/2023
10.19 Morris Water Maze Rats 02/28/2022
10.20 Manual Restraint Rats 02/28/2022
10.22 The Supportive Care of Rodents During Research Procedures Rats 02/28/2022
10.23 Rodent Ultrasound Rats 02/28/2022
10.24 Breeding and Weaning Rats 02/28/2022
10.25 Estrus Cycle Monitoring Rats 01/28/2020
10.29 Dorsal Approach Ovariectomy Rats 01/23/2023

SOP Policy Type Date Revised
14.1 Management of Controlled Substances Facility 01/23/2023
14.2 Transport of Research Animals on Campus Facility 12/06/2021
14.3 Clinical Health Reports – Rodent Facility 12/06/2021
14.4 Rodent Environmental Health Monitoring Facility 10/21/2021
14.5 Anesthetic Machine Setup, Surgical Suite Facility 03/1/2022
14.6 Checklist for using the Anesthetic Machine Facility 03/1/2022
14.7 Anesthetic Machine Setup for use in the Large Animal MRI Facility 03/1/2022

SOP Policy Type Date Issued
1.1 Appeal Mechanism Administrative 09/27/2023
1.2 Communication Administrative 09/27/2023
1.3 Confidentiality Administrative 09/27/2023
1.4 Conflict of Interest Administrative 09/27/2023
1.5 Document Management Administrative 09/27/2023
1.6 Interim Reviews & Protocol Extension Administrative 09/27/2023
1.7 Meeting Administration Administrative 09/27/2023
1.8 Membership Management Administrative 09/27/2023
1.9 Pedagogical Merit Administrative 09/27/2023
2.0 Pilot Studies Administrative 09/27/2023
2.1 Protocol Closures Administrative 09/27/2023
2.2 Scientific Merit Administrative 09/27/2023
2.3 Subcommittee Workflow Administrative 09/27/2023
2.4 AUP Submission, Review and Approval Workflow Administrative 09/27/2023
animal facility

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