Inspections

Rules of thumb for keeping animal procedure rooms up to par for always and for inspections

• • If asked a question by an inspector, provide an answer only to the direct question that was asked. Scientists usually tend to try to give a complete explanation but this can actually invite trouble during an inspection. Example: "How do you know that the animal is anesthetized when using neuromuscular blockers?" "We monitor the heart rate." (End of answer, unless they ask follow up questions.)

  • Rooms should be clean and free of loose clutter.

  • All substances that come into contact with animals should be labeled with an expiration date. Nothing should be expired.

  • No cardboard boxes on the floor, no plastic grocery bags, no paper grocery bags. All storage boxes used for equipment that comes into contact with animals should be some kind of permanent metal or plastic.

  • Any food for animals should be labeled and should have an expiration date.

  • The cot should not be used in an animal procedure room.

  • There should be no domestic animals or domestic animal cages in animal procedure rooms.

  • There should be NO expired drugs or other material (like water, ethanol) in the animal procedure rooms. Liquids that are not for animals should be marked NOT FOR ANIMALS.