Researchers must now fill out a health questionnaire before working with laboratory animals at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, said Rosemary Ruff, the university's director of research compliance.
"We're screening people in advance of getting to work with animals to make sure we provide them with whatever they need to protect themselves to be safe, to not have an allergic reaction," Ruff said.
The university is complying with a requirement of the U.S. Public Health Service, Ruff said. The requirement affects research funded through the Public Health Service, a division of the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Ruff said the requirement also applies to workers who deal with animals at certain UA facilities. Three facilities regularly using rats, mice and chickens are listed by UA in documents outlining an assurance to federal regulators to follow animal-welfare requirements.
Typical research involving animals in a farm setting is not subject to the new requirement, Ruff said. At any one time, roughly 40 people might be authorized to work with animals in research affected by the new requirement, Ruff estimated.
The questionnaire asks about immunizations, as well as allergy and medical history. A health care professional at the university's Pat Walker Health Center will review questionnaires and possibly refer a worker to a doctor if there is a concern.
Allergies pose the greatest potential health risk to researchers who work with animals, according to a 2011 report by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Such allergies can develop into long-term asthma. The report also notes that diseases can be transferred from animals to humans.
NW News on 06/29/2014