Animal Research CUE Sheet - 03.10.2026

Why do we perform inspections?

Federal regulations require us to inspect our facilities and review our program at least once every six months. In addition to meeting our regulatory requirements, 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 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 the farms or our larger 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. 

UMD researchers and facilities personnel are expected to operate in compliance with these standards in an ongoing basis, so no special preparation should be required. We provide our Inspection Checklist (DOCX) 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.

Inspections FAQs PDF available upon request. Click here to email the IACUC Office.

Noted for the Fall 2025 Inspection:

• Continued improvement in total number of findings (220 SP24  |  150 FA25)
• Significant improvement in training documentation findings. Automated emails from our database should help you stay on top of this admin task—please reach out if you have not received this to check the training status and enrollment for all of your current lab personnel. 
  • The training database does not replace your in-lab documentation, please keep up to date training documentation 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.
• Improved in all categories except for Storage/Disposal—additional guidance on storage of controlled substances, mixtures and solutions, expendable supplies and medications, and shelf life of sterile agents forthcoming. 
  • 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”). Ensure that sanitation supplies are in date as well with labels for date opened/mixed as appropriate.
  • Feed storage (and other husbandry supplies): Feed should be rotated first-in, first-out and clearly labeled with expiration/mill dates. Opened feed should be stored in sealable, sanitizable bins with clear expiration dates and sanitation dates. Temperature and humidity should be in appropriate ranges and recorded daily. Other clean husbandry items (water bottles, food/water bowls, toys, huts, etc.) should be covered and stored appropriately.
• Recordkeeping:
  • Make sure sanitation records for lab spaces, animal housing areas and surgical suites are maintained appropriately. This includes euthanasia equipment maintenance and records.
  • Cagewash and Autoclave: Make sure that test strips and other records are maintained and available. Ensure that emergency functions are working appropriately and that staff are trained on emergency procedures.
• Please check that previously cited physical plant deficiencies are repaired.
• Most Safety/Cleaning items related to general cleanliness, eyewash maintenance and documentation, 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.
  • 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.
• Animal health must be checked daily, and records must be updated and available.
  • Sick and deceased animals must be reported to the AV’s office via appropriate channels.

Due to the variable nature and volume of protocols reviewed in any given month, we cannot provide exact timelines for approval. We recommend submitting your protocol 3 months prior to whenever you intend to start your work with animals.

 *NO AUGUST MEETING | The IACUC will try to send projects submitted during this time to DMR. Those called for FCR will go to the September meeting.

Due to the variable nature and volume of protocols reviewed in any given month, we cannot provide exact timelines for approval. We recommend submitting your protocol 3 months prior to whenever you intend to start your work with animals.

 *NO AUGUST MEETING | The IACUC will try to send projects submitted during this time to DMR. Those called for FCR will go to the September meeting.