Purchasing laboratory management software may seem like the obvious fix for an institution’s productivity. Robust software that streamlines processes and improves workflow are highly valued and touted as a must-have for any organization with an animal research program. However, the work doesn’t end once the software is installed and users are trained. Over time, software …
The Importance of Regular Software Health Checks Read More »
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that normal operations can be disrupted at any time to varying degrees as a result of completely unforeseeable or underestimated events. This is why animal care and use programs must have disaster and business continuity plans. But even the best-laid plans will never cover every scenario, …
In a recent blog post, we mentioned the importance of having accurate census data and how the TOPAZ Mobile Census application is a key part of this picture. The Mobile Census application has been around, in one form or another, for over 20 years. For a while it was called, rather snappily, TOPAZ Tracks, complete …
TOPAZ Elements has numerous modules (13 at last count!) that can be used effectively in a variety of combinations. It is true to say, however, that the Census module (along with the Protocols module) represents a sort of “hub of the wheel.” The Census module allows you to create and manage the animals that are …
We’re getting close to that time of year again! TOPAZ will be at the 2019 National AALAS meeting in Denver, as always. We’ll be at booth 838, so stop by to chat about Elements or just to say “hi” (and grab a cool giveaway)! This year we are, once again, following AALAS with our annual …
An important part of reporting to OLAW for PHS fund recipient institutions is reporting of non-compliance for incidents that impact animal welfare. The requirements are clearly summarized on the OLAW pages, but of course, leave the internal administrative mechanism up to the institution. These incidents are hopefully rare and as such, it may be that the …
Reporting Non-Compliance (Elements can help here, too!) Read More »
The annual report that must be submitted to OLAW is very much focused on the constitution and effectiveness of the IACUC, along with any changes that may affect the institutions accreditation. The report requirements are clearly defined on the OLAW pages, and are mostly obvious and easily collated (with a little preparation). However, it is …
The need for training when using animals in research is ubiquitous. Almost every topic in the Guide includes the word “training.” The AALAC FAQ page mentions “training” 13 times, including under topics as diverse as respirator use, use of invertebrate animals, and enrichment practices. Those of us who have worked hands-on with animals know that …
The Cost Accounting module of Elements allows you to accurately determine what your per diem rates should be in order to break even in the facility operation. So, how does it do this? Fundamentally, the module allows you to enter all the costs involved in running your facility at a level of granularity that you …
TOPAZ Reporter allows you to design and run an infinite range of reports based on your Elements data. To output a simple listing report is quite easy, but often we see customers with very specific report requirements, and sometimes these reports can be rather tricky to produce. This is a reflection of the balance between flexibility, …
