The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in September.
These routine inspections are one of the most important tools we have for assessing programmatic strengths and identifying areas for individual and collective improvement(s) in service to the animals entrusted to our care.
Through this lens of shared responsibility, please review and discuss the findings, suggestions for improvement, and resources below with all members of your staff – including any students involved with research in your lab – in advance of Winter 2026 semi-annual facility inspections.
The next round of semi-annual IACUC facility inspections is scheduled to occur the week of March 9, 2026.
A more detailed facility inspection schedule will be released early next year.
Common Deficiency Areas** Identified During Fall 2025 Inspections:
Examples:
- Compressed gas cylinders not properly stored
- Eyewash stations not properly maintained
- Waste Anesthetic Gas charcoal canisters not positioned or maintained properly
- Vacuums missing a HEPA filter
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Download and review EHS Compressed Gas Guidelines and SOPs, which outline that storage of compressed gas cylinders requires sturdy chains or straps secured to a wall or cabinet, and/or use of a cylinder stand
- Eyewash stations (flushed at least monthly) and safety showers (visually inspected at least weekly) should be monitored at required intervals, with testing appropriately documented
- Refer to the Safe Use of Isoflurane in Animal Research page on the EHS website, or reach out to [email protected], for guidance on properly scavenging waste anesthetic gas
- To protect animal handlers from allergens, vacuums need to have a HEPA filter. If your laboratory is unable to determine if the vacuum has a HEPA filter, contact [email protected] for assistance with evaluation
Examples:
- Sanitation practices for all lab equipment that comes into direct contact with animals were not established and/or equipment was soiled
- Expired and/or unlabeled animal feed was found
- The animal/procedure room was found to be cluttered
- Animals were found to be singly housed without appropriate justification
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Schedule a consultation with the Animal Safety Coordinator
to have your equipment sanitization processes appropriately tested and validated - Download the Quick Reference Sheet: Equipment Cleaning & Sanitization Guidance to familiarize yourself with the procedures and expectations for equipment sanitization and testing
- Mill and expiration dates for animal feed should be routinely checked to ensure that feed is in-date. Any secondary storage containers should also be clearly labeled with content information and expiration/mill date. Contact your facility’s ULAM Husbandry Supervisor with questions or concerns about proper labeling practices for animal feed
- Review the Procedure Room and Support Space SOP for guidance on procedure room maintenance
- Download the Identifying Single Housed Animals SOP to familiarize yourself with the procedures and expectations for identifying single housed animals
Examples:
- Expired materials, drugs, and substances found
- Materials and substances not appropriately labeled
- Surgical instruments or implanted items were not properly sterilized
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Create and maintain a regular schedule for reviewing substance expiration dates
- Review the Quick Reference Sheet: Managing Expired Drugs & Supplies for best practices on developing a system to monitor expired materials
- Ensure all materials/substances are labeled and dated, if necessary, upon arrival/order (review the Policy on the Use, Storage, and Expiration of Substances, Agents, and Medical Materials Used in Animals for more information)
- Remove expired substances or materials from circulation/use or appropriately label for non-recovery use only (as outlined by the Policy on the Use, Storage, and Expiration of Substances, Agents, and Medical Materials Used in Animals)
- Download the Guidelines for the Storage of Sterile Items to familiarize yourself with the procedures and expectations for proper sterilization of surgical instruments
Examples
- A water leak was reported in a laboratory space
Suggestions for Improvement:
- All plant related issues should be reported in a timely manner to Facilities & Operations and a work request number should be available
**Percentages above represent the number of overall deficient findings in a given area (e.g., Occupational Health & Safety – 53% denotes that,
of the total findings identified during Fall 2025 semi-annual facility inspections, 53% were related to occupational health & safety).
Questions?
Questions or concerns about semi-annual IACUC facility inspections, or any of the items outlined above, should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected] or (734) 763-8028.
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