Arthropod Containment & Oversight

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) oversees research involving genetically modified or potentially infected arthropods. Protocols for research projects of this type must be submitted to the IBC for review and approval. If there is any questions concerning your need for IBC review, please use the IBC determination tool. 

Endemic species, collected in the field or commercially purchased, that have not been infected or genetically modified, do not require campus oversight. Examples include: fruit flies (drosphila), cockroaches, butterflies/moths (lepidoptera), beetles (coleoptera), etc. 

The Institutional Review Board (IRB), the entity that oversees research using human subjects, will require the approval if blood is used from the human volunteer to feed arthropods. This does not apply when blood is acquired from a commercial source. 

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the entity that oversees the use and treatment of animals in research, approval is required when research animals are used for blood feeding. 

Preventing escape of arthropod from containment:

Contain arthropods by following Arthropod Containment Level criteria, and by adhereing to specific work and containment practices as determined by risk assessment for each situation. Examples of these practices include:

• Use appropriately-sized screen mesh to provide primary containment.
• Disinfect containers effectively to prevent arthropod survival and escape.
• Use an effective trapping method in the lab to monitor for escaped arthropods.
• Manipulate arthropods in a secure glove box, walk-in incubator, screen cubicle, etc.