In response to the questions posed in this scenario, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care (USDA, APHIS, AC) offer the following clarification and guidance:

The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) and the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (AWARs) specifically require a convened meeting of a quorum of the IACUC to carry out full committee review and approval of a protocol and to review and vote to suspend an activity1,2. The PHS Policy and the AWARs are silent on the steps required to approve IACUC meeting minutes. The PHS Policy and the AWARs state that the research facility shall maintain minutes of IACUC meetings, including records of attendance, activities of the committee and committee deliberations1,2. OLAW and USDA expect IACUC members to be involved in assuring the accuracy of these documents, to correct identified errors and to certify that the records factually reference the discussions and outcomes regarding the proposals reviewed and the business conducted. IACUCs have latitude as to the steps taken to approve the final version of the meeting minutes. Some possible options include discussion at a convened meeting of a quorum, distribution by hard copy or electronically for concurrence or obtaining verbal concurrence by telephone after distribution of the document.

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