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Animal Care Committee   Approval Time

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How long does it take to get approval for a new Animal Care and Use Protocol Application?

Unfortunately, the true answer is- It Depends.  Approval depends upon the review of the protocol application and adequate review of the protocol application depends on the ACC receiving a thorough, well-written document.  The document must conform to USDA and PHS policies as well as recommendations set forth by AAALAC and The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (The Guide).  Average time for new protocol approvals from time of committee review (not time of submission) until approval is 8 weeks.  Complicated protocols (e.g., surgical protocols, protocols with deviations from The Guide) may take even longer.  Fairly simple protocols (e.g., tissue harvest protocols with no experimental manipulations of the animals) may take less than a month to be approved.  Researchers should review our policy on protocol reviews.

How long does it take to get approval for modifications to approved Animal Care and Use Protocols?

Again, it depends.  Modifications to add adequately trained and qualified personnel typically take approximately 10 days (to allow for enrollment in the occupational health surveillance program which they must do).  Other modifications typically take a longer amount of time.  The ACC tries to approve most modifications via the Designated Member Review system (please review our policy on this system) in order to shorten the amount of time it takes to approve modifications, but not all modifications meet the requirements for this review system.   Modifications that meet the DMR requirements typically take approximately 10 days to get approval.  Modifications that must go to full committee review typically take 4 weeks from time of committee review to get approval.