Local, state and federal laws regulate the use of animals in the laboratory.  The Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International is a private, nonprofit organization that that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. AAALAC voluntary accreditation process enables research programs to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standards required by the various laws, and also take the extra step to achieve excellence in animal care and use.  

More than 770 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 31 countries have voluntarily earned AAALAC accreditation.  AAALAC offers training in three formats:  on-site at company facilities, remote classes via the internet, and on-line webinars.

Topics covered by these offerings include:

• AAALAC’s Expectations for Animal Care and Use/Ethics Committees:  Topics include performance based standards to evaluate animal care as well as use of programs and facilities, performing effective semi-annual program reviews and facility inspections, review of animal protocols and post-approval monitoring, committee documentation and policies, and the committee’s role in occupational safety and health (OSHA).


• AAALAC’s Expectations for Occupational Safety and Health Programs:  Topics include hazard identification and risk assessment, medical surveillance and preventative medicine, personnel training, monitoring programs and personal protective equipment.


• AAALAC's Expectations for the Physical Plant of Biomedical Animal Care and Use Programs:  Topics include physical plant recommendations: (corridors, doors, windows, power, lighting, storage, noise control, cage wash, and surgical facilities), Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) standards, the impact of issues such as air diffusion patterns, air exchange rates and air filtration needs, and resources available for designing new animal facilities and renovating existing ones.


• AAALAC’s Expectations for Veterinary Medical Care:  Topics include animal procurement, transportation, and quarantine of newly arrived animals, as well as how to determine what type of quarantine or stabilization period may be needed.  Issues such as as separation of species and the use of performance standards in designing surveillance and rodent health monitoring programs are covered, as well as the provision of veterinary medical care, medical records and surgical programs and records.