The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) completed its latest round of semi-annual facility inspections in mid-March.
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 Fall 2025 semi-annual facility inspections.
The next round of semi-annual IACUC facility inspections is scheduled to occur the week of September 22, 2025. A more detailed facility inspection schedule will be released later this year.
Common Deficiency Areas** Identified During Winter 2025 Inspections:
Examples:
- Compressed gas cylinders not properly stored
- Eyewash stations not properly maintained
- Engineering controls (BSC, fume hoods, LEV) not certified annually
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
- Contact EHS at (734) 647-1143 for assistance with annual hood certification. Additional guidance is also available on the EHS website
Examples:
- Post-operative monitoring sheets/records were incomplete
- Expired materials, drugs, and substances found
- Materials and substances not appropriately labeled
- Anesthetic machines or anesthetic canisters were not properly maintained
Suggestions for Improvement:
- Download and print post-operative record templates
- Download the Quick Reference Sheet: Avoiding Common Mistakes When Completing Surgical Records for Mice and Rats
- 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)
- Review the Policy on Maintaining Anesthetic Machines and Vaporizers, which states that anesthetic machines/vaporizers must be manually assessed at yearly intervals to ensure high-quality anesthesia for research animals and a safe working environment for personnel
- Utilize ACUO services for quarterly anesthetic machine servicing and certification
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
- Improper management/maintenance of room records
- Documentation for shears/guillotine sharpening was not available
Suggestions for Improvement:
- 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
- Download the Animal Room Documentation SOP for proper animal room documentation procedures
- Review the Policy on Maintenance of Guillotines, Scissors and Shears to ensure that you are familiar with the expectations for equipment maintenance and recordkeeping
Examples
- Cage cards missing pertinent information
Suggestions for Improvement:
- In addition to all other required information (see Section 2.a in the Guidelines for Acceptable Methods of Identification and Genotyping of Rodents and Zebrafish), cage cards must also include the names and contact information for:
- The laboratory’s Animal Health Contact, and
- The responsible Principal Investigator
**Percentages above represent the number of overall deficient findings in a given area (e.g., Occupational Health & Safety – 49% denotes that,
of the total findings identified during Winter 2025 semi-annual facility inspections, 49% 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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