Disclaimer:
OLAW develops and monitors, as well as exercises compliance oversight relative to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the "PHS Policy"). One of OLAW's primary functions is to advise awarding units and awardee institutions concerning the implementation of the PHS Policy. OLAW often provides this advice by responding to policy-related questions submitted by such units and institutions. The following Commentaries provide guidance that represents OLAW's current thinking on these topics. This guidance is based on OLAW's experience with the subject matter and draws on best practices followed by the biomedical community regarding the use of research animals. Unless specific statutory or regulatory requirements are cited, the Commentaries should be viewed as recommendations in that an institution may use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the PHS Policy.

Commentary on Lab Animal Protocol Review Columns

• Lab Animal 2012; 41(11). (PDF - 144 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Amendment submitted; protocol reviewed?
• Lab Animal 2012; 41(09). (PDF - 160 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Reactivation of a suspended protocol.
• Lab Animal 2012; 41(08). (PDF - 96 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Management of a holding protocol.
• Lab Animal 2012; 41(04). (PDF - 155 KB) A Word from OLAW. Amending a protocol to import and breed knockout mice.
• Lab Animal 2012; 41(03). (PDF - 181 KB) A Word from USDA and OLAW. Disagreement between IO and IACUC.
• Lab Animal 2012; 41(02). (PDF - 98 KB) A Word from USDA and OLAW. IACUC approval of SOPs.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(11). (PDF - 179 KB) A Word from USDA and OLAW. Quick action for an injured mouse.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(10). (PDF - 171 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Managing a pending IBC approval.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(8). (PDF - 209 KB) A Word from OLAW. Power struggle between part-time employees.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(3). (PDF - 192 KB) A Word from OLAW. Miscommunication involving ‘standard care’.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(2). (PDF - 97 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Citation for a discussion of noncompliance.
• Lab Animal 2011; 40(1). (PDF - 156 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. From ‘Designated Member’ back to ‘Full Committee’?
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(11). (PDF - 178 KB) A Word from OLAW. Refusal to renew an expiring protocol.
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(10). (PDF - 189 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Is electronic approval appropriate?
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(8). (PDF - 170 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Noncompliance in survival surgery technique.
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(6). (PDF - 180 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Revisiting approved protocols.
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(3). (PDF - 88 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Tissues from privately owned dogs.
• Lab Animal 2010; 39(2). (PDF - 149 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Breeding without research.
• Lab Animal 2009; 38(11). (PDF - 187 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Categorizing insufficient pain alleviation.
• Lab Animal 2009; 38(7). (PDF - 182 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Required modifications and designated member reviews.
• Lab Animal 2009; 38(6). (PDF - 188 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Clinical study or research activity?
• Lab Animal 2009; 38(4). (PDF - 208 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Multiple campuses, one IACUC: how many AVs?
• Lab Animal 2009; 38(2). (PDF - 145 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Reportability of protocol suspensions.
• Lab Animal 2008; 37(7). (PDF - 95 KB) A Word from USDA, FDA and OLAW. Deciding which animals to use.
• Lab Animal 2008; 37(2). (PDF - 95 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Collaborative studies and animal reuse.
• Lab Animal 2007; 36(9). (PDF - 77 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Of alternate and designated IACUC members.
• Lab Animal 2007; 36(7). (PDF - 60 KB) A Word from OLAW. Getting around late protocol renewals.
• Lab Animal 2007; 36(3). (PDF - 71 KB) A Word from OLAW. One animal, two protocols – an appropriate application of the 3Rs?
• Lab Animal 2007; 36(2). (PDF - 74 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. New CEO, new IACUC?
• Lab Animal 2007; 36(1). (PDF - 73 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. The importance of being ‘in charge’.
• Lab Animal 2006; 35(10). (PDF - 87 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Tackling investigator noncompliance.
• Lab Animal 2006; 35(6). (PDF - 71 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA. Clinical trial trouble.
• Lab Animal 2006; 35(4). (PDF - 85 KB) A Word from OLAW and USDA.. Conference wet lab: is an IACUC needed?
• Lab Animal 2006; 35(2). A Word from OLAW. Grants proposals and animal use protocols: Is the IACUC playing by the rules?
• Lab Animal 2006; 35(1). A Word from OLAW. Should you count your mice before they're weaned?
• Lab Animal 2005; 34(2):18-20.A Word from OLAW and USDA. Electronic (Mis)Communication in IACUC Procedures.
• Lab Animal 2005; 34(1):11-12. A Word from OLAW and USDA. Alternate IACUC Members: What Are the Rules?
• Lab Animal 2003; 32(9):17-19. A Word from OLAW and USDA. A Mouse Isn’t a Rat, But What’s the Big Deal?
• Lab Animal 2002; 31(5):19-21. A Word from OLAW. To Report or Not to Report?
• Lab Animal 2001; 30(8):21-23. A Word from OLAW and USDA. Did an Audiotape Squirrel Away the Minutes?
• Lab Animal 2001; 30(6):18-20. A Word from OLAW and USDA. Is Ad Hoc Approval Enough?
• Lab Animal 2001; 30(3):21. OLAW commentary. A Pain in the Rat.
• Lab Animal 2000; 29(3):18-19. A Word from OPRR. Problem Children.
• Lab Animal 1999; 28(7):21. A Word from OPRR and USDA. Who’s to Blame?
• Lab Animal 1998; 27(9):17. The View from USDA and OPRR. The Unofficial Official?
• Lab Animal 1998; 27(8):18. OPRR and USDA Commentary. So Much Work, So Little Time.
• Lab Animal 1998; 27(3):21. A Word from the Government. Playing by the Rules.
• Lab Animal 1997; 26(3):21. OPRR and USDA/Animal Care Response on Applicability of the Animal Welfare Regulations and the PHS Policy to Dead Animals and Shared Tissues. Optimal Animal Use.
• Lab Animal 1996; 25(5):22. A Note From the NIH and USDA. Majority Rules?

Letters to the Editor

• Contemporary Topics 2001; 40(6):8. OLAW and APHIS Letter to Editor: Suggestions to Bring Electronic Protocol System into Compliance.
• Lab Animal 2001; 30(3):15. (PDF - 3 MB) OLAW and APHIS Letter to Editor: Innovative, But Not Compliant.

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