Drexel University is committed to the health and safety of both personnel and animals.  Once an animal use protocol has been approved, the IACUC routinely monitors animal activities to ensure compliance with the protocol and to provide the highest standard of animal welfare.  

All rooms where live animals are housed or used are inspected before becoming IACUC approved and again semi-annually by the IACUC.

Under PHS and AWR regulations, at least every six months, the IACUC will inspect all institutional animal housing facilities and areas where animals are used. These inspections provide an ongoing mechanism for ensuring that the institution maintains compliance with the applicable animal care and use policies, guidelines, and laws.

The inspections focus on the following areas: 

1. physical plant condition including functional space, facilities for sanitizing cages, general features of animal housing rooms, composition of floors, walls, and ceilings, lighting, heating, ventilation, and noise control
2. laboratory animal facilities including social environment, bedding, water, food sanitation, waste disposal, animal identification, and 
3. individual laboratories including the physical appearance of the work area, sanitation, use of sterile procedures, storage of anesthetic agents and drugs, record keeping, equipment used for surgery.

Drexel Inspections

The Drexel IACUC semi-annual inspections take place in April and October each year.  Investigators will be notified of the date and time at least one week in advance.

Laboratories which have IACUC approval to use live animals outside of the ULAR facilities must have a representative of their lab available during the time of inspection. The representative should be knowledgeable about the animal research protocols and have access to the inspection areas.  Laboratory inspections are based on the rooms listed on the approved protocol.  It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure the room list is complete and accurate. 

Tips for Successful Semi-Annual Inspection Results

• Keep all surgical and post-operative records and up to date with complete information.
• Ensure expired drugs are stored separately or disposed.Please contact EHS for more information on removal of controlled substances.
• The laboratory and any equipment should be clean, organized, and safe for animals and staff. Expired equipment (gloves, sutures, etc.) should be disposed or labeled for terminal use only where appropriate.
• All secondary contains should be labeled with the appropriate information.
• Waste scavenging equipment should be weighed and used according to the manufactures instructions.Weight records should be available and complete.
• Food should be labeled and stored appropriately.