IACUC SEMIANNUAL FACILITY INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS
Animals
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Overall Health:
o Are the animals displaying normal healthy behaviors
o Any signs of illness, injury, pain or distress
o Are they checked daily and is there a checklist with dates and initials
o Are veterinarians notified when health problems arise?
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Housing Conditions:
o Is the enclosure of appropriate design for the comfort, security and observation of the
animals?
o Is it constructed of durable and sanitizable materials?
o Is the enclosure clean and in good repair?
o Are food and water readily available? Is there enough space and feeding/watering points
to minimize competition?
o Does the enclosure in any way jeopardize the well-being of the animals?
o Are there adequate records kept of housing/feeding/watering maintenance? Sanitation
and/disinfection records kept?
o Are animal cages properly labeled? Protocol #’s listed, expired protocol numbers?
o (For research labs only) Is there a copy of the protocol available?
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Space:
o Is space adequate for the size and number of animals contained?
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Enrichment:
o Does the physical environment of the primary enclosure provide a means of speciestypical activities?
o E.g. perches, swings, mirrors, nesting material, hiding places, objects to manipulate,
varied food items, social opportunities, interaction with the caregiver etc.
o Are social species housed in groups, if not, is there enrichment of the physical
environment?
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Maintenance of Equipment:
o Is any equipment requiring periodic service or certification properly maintained, e.g.
vaporizers, BSC, fumehoods etc.? (Usually a sticker with a date of last inspection and
should be within the last year.)
Facility

Appearance:
o Is the facility conducive to achieving the goals of animal well-being, research integrity and
personnel health and safety?
o Is the facility structurally sound?
o Are there physical barriers in place to prevent vermin?
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Ventilation/Odor/Temp Control:
o Are there any extremes of temperature and humidity?
o Is there adequate ventilation? Excessive odor?
o Are noise levels high? Should hearing protection be used?
o Is there documentation of environmental readings i.e. temp, humidity checklist with date
and initials?
o Are the facility systems in proper working order (electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation,
air-conditioning etc.) to support working demands?
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Maintenance, Paint, Floors
o Is the facility structure and building maintained and in good repair?
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Cage Storage/Sanitation/Housekeeping:
o Is the facility outfitted with fixtures and equipment appropriate to the housing, care and
use of the species housed?
o Are the surfaces sanitizable?
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Is the facility clean and free of unnecessary clutter?
IACUC SEMIANNUAL FACILITY INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS
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Are there records of sanitation and disinfection?
Are chemicals/containers etc. appropriately labeled?
If food is stored, is it in date, are mill dates present? Is it stored off of the floor? Typically,
food that is stored properly is good up to 6 months after the mill date.
Are unused, open bags of food stored in vermin proof containers, labeled with type of food
and mill date?
Is bedding stored off of the floor?
OHS
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Carcass Disposal:
o Are waste receptacles properly labeled, leak proof, tight fitting lids/doors?
o Are hazardous wastes that are toxic, carcinogenic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, or
otherwise unstable placed in properly labeled containers and disposed of according to
OHS recommendations/Federal & State regulations?
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Is there appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) available and used?
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Are Hazardous Agent Signs Posted? Hazardous materials/contaminated animals clearly
identified and labeled?
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Sharps:
o Are sharps containers properly used? Should be no more than ¾ full, only sharps
disposed of? Slides can be disposed of in sharps but glass waste should be disposed of
in specified glass waste approved containers.
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Are gas tanks secured?
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Are eyewashes and emergency showers available? Eyewashes inspected weekly and
documented? Showers inspected yearly and documented?
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Are all cleaning, husbandry, veterinary and experimental substances labeled with name,
opening or expiration date?
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Are emergency contacts posted?
Records
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SOP’s/Checklists:
o Are the appropriate SOP’s available?
o Are the appropriate checklists available and in use i.e. husbandry, environmental
readings, controlled substances etc.?
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Surgical Records:
o If applicable, see the enclosed surgical record checklist.
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Control Substances:
o Are they maintained in a locked cabinet or safe?
o Are they within the expiration date? If expired, are they disposed of through DEHS
requirements?
o Are there appropriate usage records? Is each drug labeled with a unique identifier in order
to indentify it properly in the records?
Other Drugs
o Pharmaceutical grade drugs/medications used where appropriate?
o Are all drugs labeled with an open date? Are they within the expiration date?
o Are they stored properly?
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