Lab Inspection Tools

Semi-Annual Program Review and Facility Inspections

Purpose
In order to comply with government regulations (PHS and USDA), the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the University of Houston's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) has implemented a procedures regarding semi-annual program review and facility inspections.

Procedures
1. Animal study area is defined as “any building, room, area, enclosure, or other containment outside of a core facility of centrally designated or managed area in which animals are housed for more than 12 hours if it houses a USDA regulated species and more than 24 hours for other species.”

2. The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), NIH, has issued a document which states “when considering IACUC responsibilities for semi-annual review, it is important to keep in mind that the institution, acting through the IACUC, is responsible for all animal-related activities of the institution, regardless of where animals are maintained or the duration of their stay.”

3. In March and September of each year, the IACUC conducts facility inspections of all areas where live vertebrate animals are housed, used, or taken.

4. Once the inspections are completed, the results of the animal care and use program review and facility and laboratory inspections will be presented to the IACUC at its next convened meeting. A report will be generated by the IACUC office which will be signed by a majority of a quorum of the IACUC and will include any minority views. This report will then be submitted to the institutional official.

Faculty who are approved by the IACUC and Animal Care Operations to house animals outside of ACO facilities should continually maintain their laboratory at or above inspection guidelines. Use this checklist (PDF) to evaluate whether the laboratory is in compliance.