Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care-International

The Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALACI) is a nonprofit organization established by scientific and educational organizations to ensure high standards of laboratory animal care and use. The program works on a voluntary peer-review basis, evaluating animal care programs and facilities of applicant institutions. AAALACI standards follow the guidelines set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in determining whether or not accreditation should be granted. If there are agricultural animals used at the institution, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching is used as the standards for evaluating that portion of the program.. Accredited facilities are required to submit annual reports on the status of their animal facilities, and announced accreditation visits are conducted every three years. The NIH, in its current policies, accepts AAALACI accreditation as the best means of demonstrating conformance with NIH requirements for animal care and use.