Post Approval Monitoring

Post-approval monitoring
RARC animal program assessment specialists perform reviews of animal protocols and their associated animal activities as sanctioned under policy UW-4129, Post Approval Monitoring (PAM).

What to expect for your monitoring visit
If your lab is selected for monitoring, an assessment specialist will notify you by email to arrange a meeting with everyone working on the protocol. The specialist will provide the lab with a Self-Assessment Checklist, which you can use to prepare.

Specialists aim to take as little of your time as possible while meeting their monitoring objectives. At a minimum, the monitoring will include:

• focused reviews of protocols and associated animal-use records
• inspection of animal-use areas and materials
• other tasks as directed by the IACUC, veterinarian, or RARC director

Specialists might also observe animal research procedures or look at animal medical records located in the animal facility or storage locations. The PI will not always be notified when their records are reviewed.

After the assessment, the specialists will provide a report to the PI at least five business days prior to communicating the findings to the IACUC. The specialists will work with the PI to ensure the report is as accurate as possible.

The IACUC, research animal veterinarian, or RARC director will sometimes direct the assessment specialists to conduct follow-up monitoring. They will notify the PI if follow-up assessments are required.