Compilation of All Standards

For a description of the three different types of standards (Position Statements, Guidance Statements, Reference Resources), please see our Overview  page.

Download a PDF of the Compilation of All AAALAC Standards.

Humane and Responsible Use of Animals

POSITION STATEMENTS:

• The 3 Rs 
• Cage or Pen Space
• Social Housing 

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

• Acceptance of Exceptions to Guide or other AAALAC Standards
• Application of Performance Standards

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

• OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 7.8)

Compliance with Applicable Regulations

POSITION STATEMENTS:

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

• ETS 123 (Appendix A*, Appendix B)
  *background information for the species-specific section of Appendix A may be found here...

Institutional Oversight

POSITION STATEMENTS:

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest in the Leadership and Composition of the IACUC/OB
• Adverse Events
• Evaluation of Scientific Rigor and Experimental Reproducibility
• Frequency of Program Review and Facility Inspection
• Legal Acquisition and Use of Wild-Caught Animals
• Nonaffiliated member of the IACUC
• Non-Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounds
• Post-approval Monitoring of Approved Animal Research Protocols

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Institutional Policies (Chapter 1) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Front Matter and Key Concepts (Chapter 1) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Animal Care and Use Program (Chapter 2) 
• Humane Endpoints (OECD)

Veterinary Care

POSITION STATEMENTS:

• The Attending Veterinarian, Veterinary Team, and Provision of Veterinary Care

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

• Analgesia and Anesthesia
• Anesthetic Equipment Calibration and Maintenance
• Aseptic Surgery 

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

• ACLAM Position Statement on Adequate Veterinary Care
• ACLAM Position Statement on Medical Records Content and Scope (2020)
• ACLAM Position Statement on Pain and Distress in Research Animals 
• AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals: 2019 Edition 
• AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (At its May 2020 meeting, AAALAC International's Council on Accreditation adopted the "AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition" as an AAALAC Reference Resource with two clarifications noted on the first page of the document.)
• FELASA-AALAS Recommendations for Monitoring and Reporting of Laboratory Fish Diseases
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Agricultural Animal Health Care (Chapter 2) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Veterinary Care (Chapter 4) 

Personnel Competence and Training

POSITION STATEMENTS:

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

Occupational Health and Safety

POSITION STATEMENTS:

• Safety Requirements for Walk-In Cage/Rack Washers and Bulk Sterilizers 
• Occupational Health and Safety Program
• B Virus (herpes B, monkey B virus, herpesvirus simiae, and herpesvirus B), Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (Herpes B virus) 

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

• Allergy Prevention
• Respiratory Protection

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (6th edition) 
• DNA Research 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Institutional Policies (Chapter 1)
• Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
• Recommendations for Prevention of and Therapy for Exposure to B Virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1)

Physical Plant and Environment

POSITION STATEMENTS:

• Selecting the Appropriate Standard(s) for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

Animal Environment, Housing, and Management:

• Behavioral Management Guidance Statement
• Maintenance of Continuous Mouse Breeding Groups 
  (such as trio breeding or harem breeding) 
• Mouse Cage Sanitation Frequency 
• Transportation of Animals Used in Research

Macroenvironment:

• Frequency of Monitoring Rodent Traps
• HVAC Measurements in Agricultural Settings
• Magnetic Resonance (MR) Scanners and Cryogen Gas Storage 
• Temperature & Relative Humidity Control 
• Use of Recirculated Air in Animal Facilities

REFERENCE RESOURCES:

Animal Environment, Housing, and Management:

• DNA Research
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Environment, Housing, and Management (Chapter 3) 
• Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

Species Specific:

• Amphibians and Reptiles
  • Guidelines for the Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory Research
• Agricultural Species in Agricultural Research and Education
  • Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (4th edition)
• Aquatics
  • Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research
  • Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research, Use of Fishes in Research Committee
• Cats
• Dogs
• Nonhuman Primates
  • APV Food Restriction Guidelines for Nonhuman Primates in Biomedical Research
  • Association of Primate Veterinarians Guidelines for Fluid Regulation of Nonhuman Primates in Biomedical Research 
• Pigs
• Rabbits
• Rodents
• Ruminants
• Wildlife Field Studies
  • 2016 Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists
  • Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research

Macroenvironment:

• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Husbandry, Housing, and Biosecurity (Chapter 3); and Species Specific Requirements (Chapters 6-13)
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Physical Plant (Chapter 5) 
• Guidelines for Co-Housing Multiple Species of Laboratory Animals

Continuous Improvement

POSITION STATEMENTS:

• Culture of Care

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS:

REFERENCE RESOURCES: