Laboratory guidelines for animal care

Animal research is a controversial subject because of the ethical and moral implications of using unwilling research subjects in potentially painful or distressful procedures usually ending in euthanasia. As such, it must be conducted in a compassionate and responsible manner geared toward maximizing the animals' quality of life prior to and during experimentation. Because of its contentious nature, the conduct of animal research is highly regulated at the federal, state, city, and institutional levels. It is essential that researchers acquire a working knowledge of the procedures and regulations in order to protect themselves and their staff from occupational hazards as well as protect their labs from criticism or attack from animal rights organizations. Perhaps the best way to protect from the latter is to avoid inadvertent instances of noncompliance with their research protocol or applicable regulations. Regulatory noncompliance can also have serious negative consequences on investigators' research ranging from temporary suspension of their protocols to loss of funding or principal investigator status. To minimize such events, it is advised that researchers build positive and collaborative relationships, trust and rapport with key institutional players, such as the veterinary staff, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and top administrators. Guidance is provided regarding the appropriate handling of regulatory noncompliances.