Full Accreditation Continued for Animal Care Operations

The Center for Laboratory Animal Medicine and Care (CLAMC) of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received full reaccreditation following a site visit last year from members of the Council on Accreditation of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) – International.

In his letter, Dale G. Martin, D.V.M., Ph.D., president of the Council on Accreditation, commended Bradford S. Goodwin, D.V.M., executive director of the lab animal center, and his staff “for providing and maintaining a quality program of laboratory animal care and use.”

Especially noteworthy, said Martin, “were the institutional support of the program, the commitment and dedication of the professional and supervisory animal care staff, the involvement of the Animal Welfare Committee, and the overall program management and organization.”

Suggestions for improvement of the program related to the use of unsealed wood racks, lining feed storage containers, potential for moisture problems with some electrical outlets, reassessment of radios in animal holding rooms, and the need for a review of existing institutional policies and training materials to inform personnel that there would be no reprisals for reporting animal welfare concerns.

AAALAC International Council members conduct site visits every three years. The UT Health Science Center program has been fully accredited since 1978.