Date Adopted: October 4, 2005

Last Review Date: September 11, 2020 

I.  Policy

The Public Health Service [(PHS), PHS policy IV.B.1-8] and the United States Department of Agriculture [(USDA), Title 9, chapter 1, subchapter A-Animal Welfare] mandate that the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) inspect the physical facilities, including satellite facilities, study areas, and areas where surgical manipulations are performed, of The University of Montana animal care and use programs at least once every 6 months. The PHS and USDA policies require the use of The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (The Guide) and Title 9: Code of Federal Regulations, chapter 1, subchapter A-Animal Welfare, respectively, as standards for evaluation.

A report of the findings of semiannual IACUC facility inspections must be reviewed and approved, minority opinions noted, and deadlines for deficiencies established by the IACUC. A copy of the final report must be provided to the Institutional Official.

II. Procedure

A.   Timing

1.  Minimum of once every 6 months

2.  May occur independently of semiannual program review

B.   Inspection team

1.  Must consist of at least two (2) IACUC members (Animal Welfare Regulations)

2.  Facility representative recommended

a.  Main facilities (Health Sciences Building & Skaggs Building): Laboratory Animal
     Resources (LAR) staff member 

b.  Field Research Station Fort Missoula: director or LAR staff member

3.  Participation of Compliance Officer [appointed and supervised by the
     Institutional Official (IO)], Attending Veterinarian, and IACUC Coordinator is
     recommended when possible

4.  No IACUC member may be excluded should he/she wish to participate

C.   Checklist

1.  A blank checklist will be used to guide IACUC members during facility inspections
     and will be reviewed semiannually to ensure compliance with all federal, state,
     and institutional guidelines.

2.  The checklist will be reviewed semiannually by the IACUC Coordinator with input
     from the IACUC Chair before each scheduled inspection. 

3.  One week prior to the inspection, the IACUC Coordinator should provide each
     facility inspection team member with a copy of the previous facility inspection findings for reference.

D.   Internal institutional facility inspection reports

1.  Components

a.  Written draft report of inspection findings compiled by IACUC Coordinator
      and distributed to IACUC 

b.  Deficiencies identified by the inspection designated as minor or significant in
      the draft report. Proposed correction dates for items in both categories
      reached in consultation with the Facility Manager and AV, included.

c.  The report must describe the institution's adherence to the following federal
     guidelines and identify any deviations from them:

1)  Animal Welfare Regulations

2)  PHS Policy 

3)  The Guide

d.  Minority views included in the final report.

e.  The final report signed by majority of the IACUC at a convened meeting

 f.   IACUC-approved report forwarded to IO after the convened meeting

2.  Review by the IACUC

a.  Revisions or corrections sent to IACUC Coordinator within 5 calendar days of
     draft sent to committee

b.  Revised draft of the report distributed to IACUC within 1 week of facility
     inspection

c.  IACUC meeting within 3 weeks of inspection

d.  Discussion, revision, and approval of report and deficiency correction
     deadlines

3.  Recordkeeping

a.  A written copy of the final report forwarded to IO

b.  The final report kept on file for a minimum of 3 years

c.  A final report posted on password-protected web site

4.  Significant deficiencies (defined as those that may be a threat to animal health
     or safety) discovered during facility inspections must be reported promptly to the
     appropriate agency (OLAW, USDA, AAALAC) and funding units.

E.   Annual reports to OLAW are filed by December 1 and include the dates of facility
      inspections.

F.   Compliance monitoring

1.  The IACUC Coordinator will forward an updated deficiency correction log on a
     monthly basis to the IACUC until all deficiencies are corrected.

2.  Inability to meet significant deficiency correction deadlines within 15 days of the
     lapsed deadline must be communicated by the IACUC through the IO to
     appropriate regulatory and funding agencies.