DLAR FAQs

Prior to being granted badge access to the animal facility, you must have completed the following:

• PI/Animal User Training;
• Occupational Health/Animal Handler Clearance;
• Are listed as key personnel on an approved animal use protocol;
• Animal facility orientation training.
   

Once you have completed animal handler clearance and have been added to an approved animal use protocol, you may request animal facility orientation training and any desired hands-on training by completing the online DLAR training request form (see training FAQs). You will request badge access to a DLAR-managed animal facility by completing the online animal facility access form. Once animal facility orientation training has been completed, your badge access will be activated.

Once the online animal facility access form is submitted, it will automatically route to DLAR to determine appropriate access based on the animal use protocol. However, the process will not be finalized until your animal facility orientation training is done. 

When animal facility orientation training is completed, the form will be processed, and you will receive an email confirming that facility access has been granted. 

You may contact DLAR with additional questions about this process.

Please email contact-DLAR@umd.edu to inquire about the status of your animal facility access request.

If your ID card was lost or stolen, you should deactivate your ID card. 

Once your ID card is deactivated, you must obtain a new ID card. ID cards can be obtained at the Office of the Registrar, First Floor, Mitchell Building, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm (View Map). 

You will need a new card to gain access to the animal facility; animal care and other research staff may NOT badge you in to the facility.

No. You must destroy your old card and use the newly issued card to gain access. Your old card was deactivated and will not work at the facility access points. You will NOT be allowed to enter the facility by showing the old card to a staff member.

Currently, when you receive a new ID card, the existing facility access permissions should be automatically applied, but occasionally, there are issues with the new cards. The following issues may be encountered:

• A delay from when the new card is made until it works at the facility. Please check your new card, and if it doesn’t work, wait overnight and try it again (it may take a while for the system to sync access for each facility).
• After 24 hours, the new card still does not work at the facility. Please email DLAR to confirm the correct access permissions are applied to the card in the Lenel system. Include your UID, the name as it appears on that ID card, and a brief description of the access issues.
• The new card still does not work after 24 hours ~and~  DLAR has confirmed that the correct access permissions are applied. Please return to the registrar’s office and request that any issues with the card be corrected.

There are several reasons a card "stops" working:

• The card was reported as lost or stolen and has been deactivated. See FAQ above on lost/stolen cards.
• The magnetic strip is damaged, worn out, or no longer functional. If this is the case, you will need to obtain a new access card from the Registrar’s office.
• The card access was removed due to an automatic deactivation date. The cards are programmed with a deactivation date. If the magnetic strip looks good and the card is registering, but no longer unlocks the door, then this may be the cause.

Please email DLAR to confirm that the card is still showing as “active” in the Lenel system. Include your UID, the name as it appears on that ID card, and ask to verify that the card has an active date in the Lenel system.

DLAR does not permanently issue keys to animal rooms or procedure areas. As applicable, animal facility orientation training will include training on the Key Watcher system used to check out keys to your animal room. 

Once trained, you will be able to retrieve your animal room key(s) from the Key Watcher system.

If you lock your badge or animal room key inside the room during normal business hours, please contact the animal care team for your facility to gain access to that room. 

After hours, please contact the UMD Police Dept at 301-405-3555 (non-emergency number).

Dedicated laboratory animal science professionals, including animal care technicians and lab animal veterinarians, comprise the DLAR animal care team.

If you discover a sick or injured animal, please follow the procedures below depending on the facility type.

DLAR-Managed Animal Facilities

• Medical Emergencies (e.g., moribund, trouble breathing, dehydration, seizures):
  Contact the on-call veterinarian at 301-458-5047 immediately.
• Non-Emergency Conditions (e.g., skin condition, tumor, abnormal behavior):
  Complete a Health Alert card and place it on the animal’s cage. DLAR staff will assess the animal within 24 hours of the card being placed. If an abnormal finding is confirmed, an Animal Health Report (AHR) will be completed.

If a DLAR animal care technician observes a sick or injured animal during daily health rounds, they will complete an AHR and email it to the Principal Investigator (PI) or lab group (copying DLAR). If the condition requires urgent attention, the staff will contact the on-call veterinarian and attempt to reach the PI/lab POC by phone. The University Attending Veterinarian (or designee) will make the final determination regarding treatment or humane endpoint decisions.

PI-Managed Animal Facilities

• Medical Emergencies (e.g., moribund, trouble breathing, dehydration, seizures):
  Contact the on-call veterinarian at 301-458-5047 immediately.
• Non-Emergency Conditions (e.g., skin condition, tumor, abnormal behavior):
  Complete the Health Alert Form. A DLAR veterinarian will review and respond within 48 business hours.

There is a veterinarian and an animal facility supervisor on-call 24/7, including holidays and during inclement weather. 

• Contact the on-call veterinarian at 301-458-5047.
• Contact the on-call facility personnel at 301-789-9977. 

Visit the Emergencies page for more information on animal care, animal facility, and campus emergencies.

For urgent or after-hours assistance, contact the on-call veterinarian at 301-458-5047.

To reach the University Attending Veterinarian, call 301-405-4920 or 301-458-5082 during regular business hours.

Yes. All animal use protocols must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before any animals can be ordered.

Animal orders are placed by the Import/Export Coordinator or a designated DLAR staff member. Orders cannot be placed directly by laboratory personnel.

The Principal Investigator (PI) or designated personnel must submit a Central Animal Procurement System (CAPS) form. 

DLAR staff will review the request before placing the order. If there are any discrepancies, the reviewer will contact the lab for clarification.

The Central Animal Procurement System (CAPS) is the online form used by Principal Investigators (PIs) and designated personnel to request animal orders. The CAPS form can be accessed through the UMD Animal Ordering Portal. 

Approved vendors are sources reviewed and authorized by a UMD veterinarian. Animals ordered from approved vendors may bypass the quarantine period upon arrival.

Animals from unapproved vendors or sources must undergo a quarantine period, which includes health testing and veterinary review. Animals will only be released to the vivarium after approval by a UMD veterinarian.

CAPS forms should be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the desired delivery date. 

Additional time may be required if animals are being ordered from an unapproved source, since quarantine and health testing must be arranged.

• Plan ahead: Submit CAPS forms at least five (5) business days before your desired delivery date. Extra time may be needed for unapproved vendors.
   
• Check your protocol: Ensure the species, strain, and number of animals requested are listed on your approved IACUC protocol.
   
• Vendor availability: Some strains or species may have limited availability. Order early, especially before holidays or university closures.
   
• Quarantine requirements: Remember that animals from unapproved vendors must undergo quarantine and health testing, which may delay their release to the vivarium.
   
• Stay in touch: If you have questions about order status, delivery timelines, or vendor approvals, contact the Import/Export Coordinator or DLAR staff.

Please email IACUC@umd.edu to request assistance or visit the IACUC website for additional information.

Please email vets@umd.edu to request assistance. In the email, include a brief description of the assistance required. 

Please make sure to include the species of animals for the proposed project and the PI name (for emails not submitted by the PI).

Please email vets@umd.edu to request assistance. In the email, include a brief description of the planned animal research.  Please make sure to include the species of animals requiring a housing location and your department.  

Yes. Consumable supplies may be ordered from DLAR. Medications (excluding controlled substances) that are listed on an approved animal use protocol or prescribed by a DLAR or authorized veterinarian may be ordered from DLAR. 

All supply and medication orders must be submitted through the online Supply Request Form. 

Orders must be charged to an active University worktag number. A 5% handling fee is applied to all supply orders processed by DLAR.

If items are in stock, orders are generally ready for pick-up within two (2) business days. 

DLAR will notify you by email once your order has been processed and is ready for pick-up. Please wait for this notification before arriving.

No. Each Principal Investigator (PI) who needs to order controlled drugs for use on their animal protocol must register with and obtain a license from the state and federal controlled substances authorities [e.g., Maryland Dept of Health Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA) and federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division]. For more information, please visit the IACUC website: https://research.umd.edu/research-resources/compliance/institutional-animal-care-and-use-committee-iacuc/dea-license

Orders may be picked up between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No appointment is required during these times.

If an item is not available in DLAR’s inventory, staff will contact you to discuss alternatives or whether the item can be special-ordered. Processing times may be longer for special orders. DLAR will notify you via email when your order is ready for pickup.

No. Each Principal Investigator (PI) must obtain the appropriate state and federal licenses [e.g., Maryland Dept. of Health Office of Controlled Substances Administration (OCSA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)] to purchase and manage controlled substances. See the IACUC website for details.

No. All orders must be picked up from DLAR during the designated pick-up hours.

After submitting your online Supply Request Form, please call (301-405-4921) or email DLAR to coordinate a drop-off time for EtO sterilization. Scheduling in advance ensures staff availability and proper handling.

For assistance with availability, order status, or other questions, please call DLAR at 301-405-4921 or email the DLAR team.

Access to animal facilities is restricted to individuals with approved animal use protocols. Several steps must be completed before access can be granted.

Please refer to the FAQ – Animal Facility Access section for detailed instructions on how to obtain access.

The use of chemical or biohazardous agents must first be approved in your animal study protocol.
Please email vets@umd.edu for assistance. In your email, include:

• A brief description of the assistance required
• The species involved in the proposed project
• The PI name (if the email is not sent by the PI)

Some procedures may be conducted in the animal room—please refer to your approved protocol for guidance.

However, several procedure rooms are available throughout the facility for use at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are made through the iLab platform.

To learn how to reserve these rooms, see the FAQ – Room/Equipment Reservations section.

If you have questions about your planned procedures, email vets@umd.edu and include the species and PI name (if not sent by the PI).

Yes. DLAR staff can provide technical and research support in several areas.
Please email contact-dlar@umd.edu with a description of your project needs.

Additional equipment and supplies are available to support research activities; however, requests must be made in advance.
Submit a Supply Request Form to initiate your request.

Most items are provided at no additional cost, but some may incur fees depending on availability and resource requirements.

Lab staff with facility access must assume responsibility for their visitors. The authorized lab member must:

• Sign visitors in and out of the facility
• Maintain constant supervision throughout the visit

Visitors may not handle or assist with research activities without prior authorization.
Direct animal contact requires additional clearance before entry.

To request cage cards or overlays, email contact-dlar@umd.edu.
Please allow at least 48 business hours for overlays to be created and made available.

An overview of services and a brief description of the available equipment can be found at DLAR Imaging Core iLAB Home Page.

 Prior to scheduling imaging training, you must have completed

• PI/Animal User Training,
• Occupational Health Animal Handler Clearance,
• Anesthesia training,
• Basic animal handling training,
• Added to an animal use protocol.

Note. If you plan to use animals for imaging studies, you must be proficient in animal handling and anesthesia. Laser Safety Training offered by ESSR is required for users of the multiphoton microscope.

All training requests and imaging equipment scheduling are managed through iLab.
To request training:

1. Go to the Request Services tab on iLab.
2. Select Imaging Equipment Training and click Initiate Request.
3. Submit your training request and include two tentative dates and times for the session.
   DLARIC staff will follow up to confirm and process your request.

For questions, please contact DLARIC@umd.edu.

Currently, DLARIC equipment is available to University of Maryland–affiliated researchers.
However, collaborative projects with external users may be considered if there is a defined project or mutual research interest. 

Please reach out to DLARIC@umd.edu to discuss potential collaborations.

Yes. All imaging procedures involving live animals must be approved on your IACUC protocol and may only be performed by approved personnel.

Users must be listed on an active IACUC protocol before receiving instrument training, except for users working exclusively with cells or tissues (no live animal work).

iLab is a web-based platform used by DLARIC to manage:

• Service requests
• Equipment scheduling
• Customer management
• Billing and invoicing

DLARIC is located at:
8278 Paint Branch Drive, College Park, MD 20742

For longitudinal studies, animals must be housed in the Clark Vivarium or CARF Vivarium.

Before badge access to the animal facility can be granted, you must complete the following:

• PI/Animal User Training
• Occupational Health/Animal Handler Clearance
• Inclusion on an approved animal use protocol
• Animal Facility Orientation Training

If you are conducting imaging or irradiation of cells or live animals not housed in the vivarium, DLARIC staff will escort you for the duration of your session while in the imaging core area.

No. Each user must be individually trained and authorized before using DLARIC equipment.
Sharing access is not permitted, as equipment misuse may result in downtime that affects all users.

Yes. Lab members may observe imaging sessions if all safety requirements are met.
Be sure to indicate any accompanying observers on your reservation request form.

If equipment damage occurs due to misuse, the last user will be billed for repairs.
Please check that the equipment is functioning properly at the start and end of your session.
Report any issues immediately to DLARIC personnel.

First register at iLAB for accounts with a DLAR imaging core at iLAB. Click on the Register button in the top right-hand side. 

Once you register and sign into the iLAB, click on the Request Services tab.

Helpful links:

• Help: How to Create New Lab/Group Accounts
• Help: How to Manage Lab Groups and Set Up Workday Driver Worktags for Billing

Yes. Equipment descriptions and links will be added to the DLARIC webpage.
Available Equipment Includes:

• IVIS Spectrum Optical Imaging
• Vevo 3100 Ultrasound
• X-RAD 320 Irradiation
• FVMPE-RS Multiphoton Microscope

Please acknowledge the use of the DLAR Imaging Core in your manuscript.
Acknowledging the core supports continued funding and access to shared resources.

Suggested statement:

“We acknowledge the DLAR Imaging Core Facility, located at A.J. Clark Hall at the University of Maryland, College Park, for providing imaging equipment assistance and consultation.”

“Per diem” (literally meaning “per day” or “for each day”) is the daily charge that Principal Investigators (PIs) pay for the standard care and housing of research or teaching animals living on campus.

The per diem rate varies by species and housing type and is calculated by considering animal care expenses such as:

• Cage washing
• Feed and bedding
• Enrichment
• Medications
• PPE and labor
• Other facility-related expenses

Rates are determined by DLAR in accordance with the NIH’s rate-setting manual, approved by University Cost Accounting, and adjusted periodically.

Current DLAR per diem rates are listed on the DLAR website.

DLAR operates as a research support service center under the Division of Research. To recover a portion of the costs associated with animal care, DLAR charges per diem rates for the species housed in DLAR-managed facilities. The University currently subsidizes a significant portion of these rates.

Per diems help cover the cost of standard animal husbandry and care, including:

• Feed and bedding
• Labor and PPE
• Critical animal care supplies and equipment

They also support:

• Emergency animal care unrelated to research protocols
• Sentinel animal testing
• Select facility repairs and maintenance

For a detailed list, see “Included in Per Diem Costs” on the DLAR Per Diem webpage.

Per diems do not cover:

• Research-related support or services
• Sentinel testing for animals housed outside DLAR-managed facilities
• Non-standard animal care
• Animal shipping or crate fees

For a detailed list, see “Not Included in Per Diem Costs” on the DLAR Per Diem webpage.

No. Non-standard animal husbandry is billed separately and typically charged based on labor time or cost per item depending on the type of specialized housing or care required.

No. Per diem rates are periodically reviewed and revised by the Division of Research.
New per diem rates are currently under development and are expected to be released by the end of 2025 and implemented at the beginning of 2026.

Once finalized, the Vice President for Research (VPR) Office will notify the research community.

Procedure rooms can be reserved through iLab on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is no cost associated with reserving a procedure room.

All procedure room and anesthesia equipment reservations must be made through iLab.

To reserve anesthesia equipment:

1. Reserve the procedure room for the full duration needed to complete your research activities.
2. Reserve the anesthesia machine only for the time the animals will be anesthetized. This helps minimize unnecessary charges to your lab.

Additional details:

• Reservations must be submitted at least 12 hours in advance.
• If you need to schedule within 12 hours, contact contact-dlar@umd.edu for assistance.
• A valid, billable Workday driver worktag must be associated with all reservations.
• Anesthesia machines are unavailable between 7:30 PM and 7:30 AM unless prior approval from DLAR has been obtained.

Please ensure all reservations are made accurately to avoid scheduling conflicts and billing issues.

Per diems do NOT pay for research-related support, sentinel testing for animals housed outside of DLAR-managed facilities, non-standard animal care, animal shipping or crate fees, etc. See “Not included in Per Diem costs” on the DLAR Per Diem webpage for additional items NOT covered by animal per diems.

No. Non-standard animal husbandry is typically charged at a calculated labor rate or per cost basis for the special housing and care required for those animals.

To register your lab or group:

1. Visit the iLab website and click Register in the top-right corner.
2. Once registered and signed in, navigate to the Request Services tab.

Helpful resources:

• Help: How to Create New Lab/Group Accounts
• Help: How to Manage Lab Groups and Set Up Workday Driver Worktags for Billing

Yes. Before scheduling anesthesia training, you must have completed:

• PI/Animal User Training
• Occupational Health Animal Handler Clearance
• Addition to an approved animal use protocol

Non-Imaging Core training requests can be submitted using the DLAR Training Request Form.

To reserve and operate the Compac 5 anesthesia machine, you must first complete specific equipment training in addition to general anesthesia training.

Reserve the procedure room for the entire duration of your work and the anesthesia machine only for the time animals will be anesthetized.

This approach helps minimize unnecessary charges to your lab.

Anesthesia equipment reservations must be submitted at least 12 hours in advance.

There are no advance restrictions for procedure room reservations.

If you need to schedule within 12 hours, please contact contact-dlar@umd.edu for assistance.
Procedure rooms may still be reserved without restriction.

No. Anesthesia machines are unavailable between 7:30 PM and 7:30 AM unless prior approval from DLAR has been obtained.

• Reservations can be cancelled directly in iLab if done at least 12 hours in advance.
• Cancellations made within 12 hours must be submitted via email to contact-dlar@umd.edu at least one hour prior to the scheduled start time.
• Failure to cancel within this window will result in charges for the full reserved duration.

Yes. All anesthesia machine reservations must be accompanied by a corresponding procedure room reservation.
In iLab, these are made as separate entries, as procedure rooms are free to reserve.

All individuals working with animals must be qualified through training and/or experience to perform their designated roles in the animal care and use program.
A variety of didactic and hands-on training is available through DLAR and the IACUC Office.

The IACUC Standard on Animal Care and Use Training Requirements outlines the required and recommended training for each role.
Additional details can be found on the DLAR Animal Care and Use Training webpage.

PI/Animal User Training is a didactic course designed to meet federal and institutional animal care and use training requirements.
The course covers:

• Laws, regulations, and ethical responsibilities
• Humane methods of animal care and use
• Pain and distress management, anesthesia, and analgesia
• Alternatives to animal use
• Aseptic technique and surgery
• Euthanasia methods
• Occupational health and safety
• Security and reporting animal welfare concerns

This course satisfies requirements described in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching.

Training is required every three years.

The PI/Animal User Refresher Training class course provides a review of key topics from the initial course and includes recent updates or regulatory changes.

Initial and Refresher PI/Animal User Training classes are offered at least once per month through the IACUC Office.

The class schedule is listed on the Animal Care and Use Training Calendar.

Additional sessions may be scheduled upon request.

Please email dlartrainer@umd.edu to inquire about arranging additional classes.

Registration links for both Initial and Refresher classes are located on the DLAR Animal Care and Use Training webpage.

Alternatively, you can register directly from the Animal Care and Use Training Calendar by selecting your preferred session date and completing the registration form.

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link for your class.

You must have UMD credentials (e.g., an @umd.edu or @terpmail.umd.edu email address) to access the registration form.

If you do not yet have UMD credentials, your PI or departmental administrator may register you on your behalf.

Animal Facility Orientation Training provides information specific to your assigned animal housing facility, including:

• Facility layout and footpath
• Proper PPE use
• Animal room access procedures
• Locating supplies, equipment, and resources
• Completing animal-related documentation
• Facility-specific policies and procedures

Before scheduling, you must complete the following prerequisites:

• PI/Animal User Training
• Occupational Health Animal Handler Clearance
• Addition to an approved animal use protocol

Once prerequisites are complete:

• For DLAR-managed facilities, complete the DLAR Training Request Form.
• For ANSC facilities, email ansc_acs@umd.edu.
• For Veterinary Medicine facilities, email vet-med-trainers@umd.edu.

DLAR provides hands-on training for a variety of animal procedures, including:

• Handling and restraint
• Euthanasia
• Anesthesia
• Aseptic technique and surgical preparation
• Injections, sample collection, and compound administration

Training is tailored to the specific species and procedures outlined in approved protocols.

You must first complete:

• PI/Animal User Training
• Occupational Health Animal Handler Clearance
• Addition to an approved animal use protocol

Then schedule training as follows:

• For DLAR-managed facilities, complete the DLAR Training Request Form.
• For ANSC facilities, email ansc_acs@umd.edu  to schedule training.
• For Veterinary Medicine facilities, email vet-med-trainers@umd.edu to schedule training.

No. DLAR trainers may only provide instruction on procedures that are included in an active, approved IACUC protocol.

Once the procedure has been approved and added to your protocol, training may be scheduled.

Anesthesia training is required only for personnel who intend to use DLAR-owned anesthesia equipment.

To register for Rodent Anesthesia Training, submit the DLAR Training Request Form.
Once training is completed and approved, your iLab account will be updated, allowing you to make anesthesia machine and procedure room reservations.

The AALAS Learning Library (ALL) is an online education resource for laboratory animal science professionals.
It offers courses covering:

• Animal handling and care
• Research ethics and compliance
• Technical procedures
• IACUC roles and responsibilities

The ALL supports AALAS certification preparation, helps meet regulatory training mandates, and enhances technical knowledge.

Visit www.aalaslearninglibrary.org for more information.

The DLAR sponsors an institutional membership for the AALAS Learning Library.
To request an account, email dlartrainer@umd.edu with your name and contact information.

There is no charge for your institutional account.

Yes. DLAR offers Fee-for-Service support to assist investigators with research-related animal care procedures.

These services are designed to:

• Support research teams when trained personnel are unavailable
• Provide assistance with specialized techniques
• Offer backup support for emergency or last-minute needs

Requests must be submitted at least one week in advance, and services are provided based on veterinarian and technician availability.

Available services may include (species-specific):

• Injections (IV, IM, SQ, IP)
• Animal identification (tattooing, ear punching, tagging)
• Oral administrations
• Tissue and sample collection
• Blood collection
• Anesthesia or euthanasia
• Weaning
• Minor surgical procedures (e.g., implant placement)

For availability and scheduling, please contact contact-dlar@umd.edu.