Animal Research CUE Sheet - 03.11.2025

Why do we perform inspections?

Federal regulations require us to inspect our facilities and review our program at least once every six months. Inspections allow us to ensure the highest quality safety and health of the animals and personnel engaged in animal research activities. 

These also provide us with an opportunity to self-inspect our spaces to identify programmatic and ongoing deficiencies before they become reportable non-compliance issues.

What spaces get inspected?

ALL areas in which live animals are housed, undergo procedures (such as surgery) or are euthanized and also…

ALL areas that are utilized for animal research support including storage areas, cage wash areas, corridors within dedicated large vivaria, imaging facilities, and more.

These areas include centralized and satellite facilities where animal care is provided by dedicated staff, as well as Principal Investigator, or PI-managed facilities where animal care is completely provided by the PI and/or other trained lab members. 

Who performs the inspections?

Generally speaking, at least two members of the IACUC must be present at the inspection of each space, and all members of the IACUC are invited to participate in the inspection of any space.

For larger spaces, like farms of vivaria, the IACUC may use larger groups or sub-groups of inspectors who will look at different parts of the facility.

How can I prepare for an inspection?

Broadly, inspectors look for findings pertaining to information found in regulatory documents like the Animal Welfare Act and the PHS Policy, as well as publications like the Guide, the Ag Guide, and others. We also have institutional standards and guidelines. 

We know that UMD researchers and facilities personnel operate in compliance with those documents listed above, so no special preparation should be required. We provide our Inspection Checklist publicly on our website and in IRBnet for all inspectors and researchers to refer to at any time, but it is especially important to familiarize yourself with the checklist before each inspection round. 

We encourage you to perform your own self-inspection of your spaces using our checklist prior to inspections! 

Findings

We have been able to digest data from the Fall ‘24 semi-annual inspection to provide some guidance on things to look out for:

• COMMON FINDING CATEGORIES | These are findings that we encounter in many different types of animal facilities, but each space is unique!
  • Training and Documentation | These findings pertain to required lab personnel training and in-date documentation of such. Commonly, Section 2 items on the Checklist.
  • Safety/Cleaning | These findings pertain to avoidable occupational, first aid and biosafety issues for humans and animals. Commonly, Section 3 items on the Checklist.
  • Physical Plant | These findings pertain to issues with the physical space in which animal activities take place. Commonly, items 3.a.i-iv on the Checklist.
  • Storage/Disposal | These findings pertain to issues with the storage of items used in animal activities, and the systems for managing the storage of those items to include temperature and humidity, expiration dates, and more. Commonly, Section 4 items on the Checklist.
• WHERE ANIMALS ARE HOUSED/PRESENT | These are findings that we look for when animals are continuously housed in a space or if they happen to be in the space during the inspection visit.
  • Animal Care/Docs | These findings pertain to issues regarding the care and welfare of animals, including health checks, identification, environmental considerations, transportation and more. Commonly, Section 5 items on the Checklist.
• OTHER SPECIAL USE AND SUPPORT AREAS | These findings pertain to areas where animals may or may not be brought to, but are imperative for quality animal care.
  • Procedures/Labs | These findings apply to surgical suites and spaces which require special documentation and sanitation. Commonly, Section 8 items on the Checklist.
  • Other | These findings pertain to signage requirements, cage wash and autoclaves as they relate to proper use. Commonly, Sections 1, 7 and 9, respectively.

Quick Guide

• Improved in all categories except for Physical Plant and Training Documentation.
  • Please check that previously cited physical plant deficiencies are repaired, and check the training status and enrollment for all of your lab personnel.
  • Up to date training documentation must also be kept in a log in your lab.
  • Ensure that new personnel are aware of lab procedures and have access to protocols and SOPs pertaining to your research.
• Most Safety/Cleaning items related to general cleanliness, eyewash maintenance and documentation, expiration dates and labeling of reagents, and pest control.
  • Ensure that your spaces are free of clutter, dust and debris, and that cleaning implements are not stored directly on the floor.
  • Eyewash stations should be flushed weekly and documentation should be updated each time.
  • Check expiration dates of cleaning supplies and provide appropriate labels of date opened/mixed if applicable.
  • Pest control traps should be maintained and documented. Issues should be reported to Travis Kramer at tkramer@umd.edu. Keep documentation of communications.
    • Pest traps should be small, low-level adhesive insect traps that will not trap rodents.
• Check expiration dates of drugs and other medical supplies, and ensure proper labeling if applicable (e.g., expired drugs labeled “not for use in survival surgeries”).
• Opened feed/bedding/enrichment and cage supplies should be stored in sealable, sanitizable containers and labeled with expiration dates and sanitation dates.
  • Be aware of proper sanitation schedules.
  • Ensure that food is stored at proper temperatures and documented.
• Animal health must be checked daily, and records must be updated and available.
  • Sick and deceased animals must be reported to the AV.
  • If applicable, USDA-regulated documentation must be available and complete.

New PI/Animal User Training is required for all new PIs, students, assistants, etc., who will work directly with animals. This includes all handling, husbandry, procedures, transportation, etc.

Click here to register for NEW PI/Animal User Training

Refresher PI/Animal User Training is required every 3 years in order to continue working with animals.

Click here to register for REFRESHER PI/Animal User Training