{"id":580,"date":"2022-03-17T15:12:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T19:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/iacuc\/?page_id=580"},"modified":"2024-10-15T13:47:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T17:47:09","slug":"semi-annual-faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/iacuc\/semi-annual-faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Semi-Annual FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8<\/span>th<\/span> edition, indicates that the IACUC Committee is responsible for the oversight and evaluation of the entire program and its components including inspection of facilities and animal use areas.\u00a0 <\/span>USDA regulations<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>NIH PHS Policy<\/span><\/a> for the use of animals in research, require<\/span>\u00a0IACUCs<\/span><\/a> to review the animal care program and inspect animal facilities and animal study areas at least every six months.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the purpose of the semiannual program review and facility inspections?<\/h3>\n

The IACUC is committed to the welfare of animals by ensuring compliance with all legal and ethical standards regarding the use of animals in research.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As part of the Program Review, the IACUC will examine the entire animal care and use program, including its own policies and procedures.\u00a0 The Facility Inspections are conducted to ensure researchers are complying with the regulations relating to animal research, including evaluation of potential hazards and safety considerations for both animals and personnel<\/span>, housing, husbandry and procedures, and general laboratory maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where do inspections take place?<\/h3>\n

The semiannual inspections review the CELS Vivarium housing and procedure rooms, PI research labs where animals are housed and used, and satellite facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who conducts the inspections?<\/h3>\n

The site visit team is composed of at least two members of the Montclair IACUC, one of which may be the Attending Veterinarian. Site visitors may ask questions about animal use as it relates to each project.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I do to prepare for the semiannual inspections?<\/h3>\n

The IACUC office will email Principal Investigators about two weeks prior to the scheduled semiannual inspection with the date and approximate time of the inspection, and with a list of findings from the previous two inspections.\u00a0 Researchers should review previous findings to ensure that findings aren\u2019t recurring and individuals have been trained to prevent repeat occurrence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For laboratories outside of the LAR, a laboratory representative must be present at the time of inspection to allow access to the committee.\u00a0 The representative must be knowledgeable about the laboratory and the research animal experimental procedures in order to answer any questions or provide requested information about research activities of that laboratory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For laboratories inside the LAR Vivarium, a research representative is welcome to be present for the inspection to answer any questions, however, this is not mandatory.\u00a0 An LAR representative will be present to lead the committee through the inspection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The inspectors follow a facility inspection checklist prepared by the IACUC office in accordance with guidance from the <\/span>Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)<\/span><\/a>. As such, investigators should be prepared to have available the following:<\/span><\/p>\n