Triannual Review of ORNL’s Animal Care and Use Program (June 1999)

The triannual review of ORNL’s animal care and use program by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Care, International (AAALAC, International) on June 28 and 29 resulted in a recommendation by site visitors for Continued Full Accreditation. A final decision from the AAALAC council will be received in November. The recommendation for Continued Full Accreditation reflects institutional commitment to high quality animal care and use at ORNL. Animals covered by the ORNL animal program includes use in Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Instrumentation and Controls Divisions and the Office of Environmental Protection. The result represents a team effort involving a spectrum of people including animal care staff, research staff, the ORNL Animal Care and Use Committee, occupational safety and health, and administrative support. The site visitors noted improvement in veterinary care, cage sanitation, HVAC systems, cage environment monitoring, health surveillance programs, the establishment of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) rooms in Building 9210, and record keeping. Suggestions for improvement were made and action on those suggestions will begin immediately to further improve the ORNL animal care and use program. (Contact: Charmaine Foltz, 574-1215 or f8f@ornl.gov)