The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals1 states, “Both the Health Research Extension Act and the AWA [Animal Welfare Act] require the IACUC to inspect animal care and use facilities, including sites used for animal surgeries, every 6 months.” This ongoing issue between Covelli and Brown should be addressed with an agreeable policy concerning the responsibility for inspection follow-up. It is paramount to have a liaison, agreed upon by the department and IACUC, who is responsible for overseeing the correction of deficiencies (compliance) and communication with the IACUC.

After the inspection report is complete, this liaison should meet with the IACUC to discuss how the inspection deficiencies will be resolved. At this meeting, the timeline for correction can also be discussed and formed (compliance). All deficiencies should be addressed and corrected, or be in the process of being corrected, before the next inspection (communication). The timeline can vary depending on the severity of the deficiency and complexity of correction. Any deficiency that is not corrected before the next semiannual inspection will go from being a minor deficiency to a significant deficiency and will then have top priority for correction.

If the deficiency is a structural issue, the liaison will pass it on to a designated representative in the maintenance or facilities department for correction. These corrections may require a work order, which could also be reported back to the IACUC to further facilitate communication. Corrections should be reported to the IACUC as they are completed. It is beneficial to designate a person to oversee the correction of inspection deficiencies and to facilitate communication between the department and the IACUC.

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