Healthcare Inspection Review of VA Use of Animals in Research Activities

The purpose of this national review of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) animal research was to assess compliance with certain requirements of VHA Handbook 1200.7, Use of Animals in Research. In 2007, there were 824 active animal research projects at 71 VA facilities. We found that there was overall good compliance with the documentation requirements for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee minutes. The highest area of non-compliance was in the facilities’ performance of the Semi Annual Review of the Animal Research Facilities. In addition we found most of the research facilities to be clean, in good repair, and adequately secured. We did not identify any instances of animal abuse or neglect. We recommended that VHA animal research programs require university affiliates’ compliance with the requirements of the Handbook and that all VA animal research programs have an active occupational health program. We also recommended improvements in security at one facility and full implementation of Handbook requirements at another facility. Finally, we recommended that VHA define minimum qualification standards for Veterinary Medical Officers and Veterinary Medical Consultants.