IACUC Policy 003: Semiannual Program Review

At least two IACUC members must be present for the inspection (10.1).

NOTE: No member wishing to participate in an evaluation may be excluded from participating (10.2). 

The documents to be included in the Program Evaluation include, but are not limited to:

• Review of the Facility Inspection Report & Assignment of Corrective Actions & Due Date

• Review of the Animal Care and Use Program Description.

• Review of IACUC Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines

• Review of the Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Plan  

While the inspection of each facility must occur semiannually, there is no regulatory requirement that all facilities at an institution must be inspected at the same time (e.g., during the same month) (10.3). Therefore, the IACUC may elect to stagger these inspections throughout the year, as long as each animal area is inspected at least every six months (10.3).

• At OHIO, semiannual program evaluations typically begin in May and November with the semiannual facility inspection occurring first.

• The review of the facility inspection report and the assignment of corrective actions should occur no less than two weeks following the inspection, typically at the program review meeting.

• Review of program documents should occur no more than two weeks from the date of the facility inspection. The committee strives to include as many members as possible in the program review.

• The Semiannual Letter to the IO is submitted for review no more than two weeks following the Program Evaluation meeting. 

All animal housing facilities must be inspected in the semiannual evaluation, including (5.1): 

• satellite facilities (containment areas outside the central/core animal facility where animals are housed for more than 24 hours (PHS Policy)

• areas in which surgical manipulations are performed (PHS Policy)

• animal study areas (locations where USDA-covered species are held for more than 12 hours) (AWRs)

• holding facilities (AWRs).

* Laboratories in which routine procedures, such as immunization, dosing, and weighing, are conducted may be evaluated by other means such as random inspections or be included in the semiannual program evaluation. The IACUC evaluates these areas for the purpose of verifying that activities involving animals are being conducted in accordance with the approved protocol.