When obtaining animals for research, the purchase order must include which of the following?

• A. Animal numbers approved by the researcher
• B. Species and strain approved by the veterinary staff and husbandry supervisors
• C. Species, strain, and number approved by the IACUC in the researcher's protocol
• D. Species, strain, and number of animals based on the previous order for that researcher

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that procurement of animals is governed by what the IACUC has approved in the researcher’s protocol. The purchase order must reflect the exact species, strain, and number of animals that the protocol authorizes. This ensures that only the animals and numbers approved for the study are obtained, aligning with regulatory oversight, humane care standards, and the institution’s records.

Relying on the researcher’s own approval or on veterinary/husbandry staff approvals alone does not provide the formal authorization or the specific numbers approved by the IACUC protocol. Using a prior order as a basis can lead to drift from what was originally approved, risking noncompliance. Therefore, the purchase order should specify the species, strain, and the number of animals as approved by the IACUC in the protocol.