To be compliant with OLAW, what document should be the basis of the IACUC review of the institution's program for the use and care of animals?

• A. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• B. Guidelines for Ethical Conduct In the Care and Use of Animals
• C. Animal Welfare Act
• D. U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training

Answer: (A)

The document used as the basis for the IACUC review under OLAW is The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. This guide provides the practical standards for how animals should be housed, cared for, trained, and studied, and it shapes how an institution’s entire program is evaluated by the IACUC. When a institution signs on with the Public Health Service, it commits to following The Guide, and the IACUC reviews the program, facilities, and procedures to ensure they align with those recommended standards. The Animal Welfare Act is the federal law that sets minimum welfare requirements and is enforced by USDA, so it’s not the document used by OLAW to base IACUC reviews. The Government Principles and other guidelines exist, but they are not the primary, concrete basis for IACUC evaluation; The Guide is the standard that translates regulatory expectations into actionable practices for daily operations.