INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE

CASE IACUC POLICIES

Policy on the use of Freund’s Adjuvant.

It is the policy of the Case IACUC to discourage the use of complete Freund’s adjuvant. If complete Freund's adjuvant is necessary, the following guidelines are to be used in order to minimize animal discomfort.

1. Freund's complete adjuvant may be used only for the first (priming) antigenic dose. The incomplete adjuvant may be used for subsequent immunizations.
2. Footpad injections with complete Freund's adjuvant must be adequately justified and specifically approved by the IACUC.
3. Injections of complete Freund's adjuvant should be subcutaneous or intraperitoneal. Intradermal injections can cause skin ulceration and necrosis. Intramuscular injections may lead to temporary or permanent lameness. Intravenous injections have been known to produce pulmonary lipid embolism.
4. The injection containing the adjuvant should be divided into fractions so that no more than 0.1 ml is injected per site (subcutaneously) in rabbits or no more that 0.05 ml in mice.
5. The injection site shall be monitored regularly for evidence of severe inflammation, large granuloma or ulceration. When the adjuvant has been administered intraperitoneally in rodents, the animals must be monitored for abdominal distension. The veterinary staff must be contacted if any of these symptoms occur.
6. The inoculum should be free of extraneous microbial contamination. Adequate purification of the antigen before mixing with adjuvant must be performed in order to assure it is as free as possible from extraneous microbial or chemical contamination.
7. The minimum interval between the initial and subsequent immunizations is two weeks and may need to be delayed if significant inflammation is still present from the initial immunization.