The following is a non-exhaustive list of the different categories of inspection findings / deficiencies, their severity, and required time to correct.

Action Required on Day of Notification

Deficiencies that pose an immediate threat to the health, welfare, or safety of animals:
  • Animals without food or water
  • Animals exhibiting signs of pain, distress, or other criteria for premature termination
  • Animals requiring treatment or observation
  • Improper anesthesia, analgesia, or euthanasia procedures
  • Hazardous materials stored in close proximity to animals
  • Unlabeled solutions
  • Improper animal transport
  • Missing or defective drain covers that may allow for animal escape or injury
  • Defective water lixits or other water problems with potential for flooding
  • Unsanitary or dangerous housing (such as animals in pens that are excessively soiled or unsafe due to a structural defect)

Action Required Within 24 Hours of Notification

Deficiencies that have the potential to significantly affect the health, welfare, or safety of animals in the near term:
  • Incompatible animals housed together
  • Overcrowded cages, multiple litters
  • Failure to monitor animals daily
  • Expired food; food not labeled with milling date
  • Expired drugs; drugs not labeled with expiration/preparation date
  • Use of non-pharmaceutical-grade substances without ARC approval
  • Inappropriate drug storage
  • Dirty cages, feeders, water bottles
  • Overdue suture/wound clip removal
  • Lack of environmental enrichment
  • Lack of flow meter on CO2 equipment
  • Inadequate light cycle, defective or no light timer
  • Temperature outside recommended range (contact Facilities Management within 24 hours)
  • Excessive noise (contact Industrial Hygiene within 24 hours)
  • Inadequate illumination (contact Industrial Hygiene within 24 hours)
  • Presence of glue boards

Action Required Within 30 Days of Notification

Deficiencies that do not significantly threaten the health, welfare, or safety of animals in the near term:
  • Inadequate record-keeping, identification
  • Improper storage of food/bedding
  • Overcrowded rooms
  • Facility issues (e.g., peeling paint, cracks, holes; rusty equipment, doors, etc.) - contact Facilities Management within 7 business days
  • Sanitation (extraneous/non-sanitizable items; uncovered supplies; dirty equipment, floors, etc.)
  • Defective or no Senso device (where required), waste bin
  • No pest control traps (storage rooms and cage wash areas)
  • Hoods requiring re-test/filter change (contact Industrial Hygiene within 7 business days)
  • Lack of animal emergency plan
  • Lack of emergency lighting in surgery areas
  • Single housed animals without documentation

Action Required By Other Deadline as Determined by Inspection Team

Deficiencies that, in the judgment of the inspection team, should be addressed within another specified timeframe:

  • Personnel requiring additional training
  • Modification of surgical procedures (e.g., implementation of aseptic surgical techniques, provision of appropriate heat source) - correct by next surgery
  • Humidity outside recommended range (increase monitoring of animals for humidity-related health problems and contact Facilities Management if humidity does not return to recommended range; timeframe for correction to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the inspection team based on severity/duration of problem)
  • Other recommendations

Approved 7/22/02; Revised 7/26/04, 2/9/09, 9/8/14, 11/3/14, 1/9/23