ABSTRACT
The foundation for building an effective process for managing inspections or site visits is to have in place a proactive, progressive Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP). The 8th edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 2011) defines the ACUP as the “activities conducted by and at an institution that have a direct impact on the well-being of animals, including animal and veterinary care, policies and procedures, personnel and program management and oversight, occupational health and safety, [IACUC] functions, and animal facility design and management.” To have a proactive, progressive ACUP, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) must review all components of the program on a regular basis and implement policies to address changes in the requirements of oversight agencies, in the scientific and management literature, and in the generally accepted standards for the care and use of laboratory animals.
