What are parent procedures, child procedures, and endorsements?

Note: Only Institutional Representatives for each institution can create or endorse procedures.

Key terms

1. Parent procedure: A parent (new) procedure is simply the first procedure submitted in the system for a specific procedure and species. It does not have any other elevated status. For example, the first ovariectomy in mice procedure submitted in the system will be the parent ovariectomy in mice procedure.
   
   
2. Child procedure: A child (variation) procedure is any procedure added as a variation of the parent procedure (the first procedure of its specific kind and species added to the system). A child procedure is the same type of procedure as the parent and is for the same species (e.g., an ovariectomy in mice), but the procedure’s steps, dosages, timing, or other information vary from the parent and any other already-entered variations. Having child (variation) procedures allows very similar procedures (e.g., all of the procedures for an ovariectomy in mice) to be displayed together for easier review by the community.
   
   
3. Endorsement: Institutions endorse already-listed parent or child procedures when the endorsing institution uses the same steps. This helps the community know how many institutions are using the same procedure and avoids the creation of duplicate procedures.

Additional Guidance

What do I do if my institution’s procedure is not similar to any already-listed procedures?

If your institution uses a procedure that is not already listed (e.g., a different surgery or substance administration) or isn’t already listed for the species in which your institution uses it, create it as a parent (new) procedure. 

See the below section examples of when to create a new (parent) and see Create a Parent Procedure for instructions.

What do I do if my institution’s procedure is somewhat different from an already-listed procedure?

If your institution uses a very similar procedure to an already-listed parent procedure for a listed species, but the steps, dosages, timing, or other information vary, create a child (variation) of the procedure under the already-listed (parent) procedure. This allows very similar procedures (e.g., all of the procedures for an ovariectomy) to be displayed together for easier review by the community. 

See the below section examples of when to create a child procedure and see Create a Child Procedure for instructions.

Note: You can also copy any procedure contributed by your institution to create a new (parent) procedure (e.g., to create the same surgery for a different species or to create a different surgery). The copied procedure will automatically populate with information with existing procedure and will allow for editing all fields. See Copy a Procedure for instructions.

What do I do if my institution uses the same procedure as an already-listed procedure?

If your institution uses the same steps as the already-listed procedure for a species, endorse the procedure. This helps the community know how many institutions are using the same procedure and avoids the creation of duplicate procedures. 

See Endorse a Procedure for instructions.

Examples of when to Create or a Parent (New) Procedure vs. a Child (Variation) Procedure 

Parent (New)

Your institution performs the same procedure as an existing procedure, but uses a different species:

1. The system has a procedure for isoflurane anesthesia in mice; your institution performs isoflurane anesthesia in rats. Your institution would need to add new parent procedure for isoflurane anesthesia in rats.

Your institution uses the same species as an existing procedure, but performs a different procedure

1. The system has a procedure for Ketamine/Xylazine anesthesia in mice; your institution performs Ketamine/Xylazine/Acepromazine anesthesia in mice. Your institution would need to add a new parent procedure for Ketamine/Xylazine/Acepromazine anesthesia in mice.

Child (Variation)

Same procedure, same species, different steps/dosages/timing/other info:

1. The system has an procedure for isoflurane anesthesia in mice, but your institution’s procedure for isoflurane anesthesia in mice uses different steps, dosages, timing, and/or other details. Your institution should add a child procedure under isoflurane anesthesia in mice.
   
   
2. The system has an procedure for ovariectomy surgery in mice, but your institution’s procedure for ovariectomy surgery in mice uses different steps, dosages, anesthetic/analgesic drugs, timing, and/or other details. Your institution should add a child procedure under ovariectomy surgery in mice.
   
   
3. The system has a procedure for administering BrdU in rabbits via intraperitoneal injection, but your institution’s procedure for delivering BrdU in rabbits uses different steps, dosages, routes (e.g., in drinking water, or injected locally into the brain ventricles), timing, and/or other details. Your institution should add a child procedure under administering BrdU in rabbits via intraperitoneal injection.
   
   

Have questions or need help? 

Submit a request to the CUSP Help Desk Team at https://cusp-help.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new. 

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