The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) was first published in 1963 under the title Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care and was revised in 1965, 1968, 1972, 1978, and 1985. More than 400,000 copies have been distributed since it was first published, and it is widely accepted as a primary reference on animal care and use. The changes and new material in this seventh edition are in keeping with the belief that the Guide is subject to modification with changing conditions and new information.
The purpose of the Guide, as expressed in the charge to the Committee to Revise the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, is to assist institutions in caring for and using animals in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. The Guide is also intended to assist investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. The recommendations are based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices that have proved to be consistent with high-quality, humane animal care and use.
Previous editions of the Guide were supported solely by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published by the Government Printing Office. As an indication of its wide use, this edition was financially supported by NIH, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and was published by the National Academy Press.
The Guide is organized into four chapters on the major components of an animal care and use program: institutional policies and responsibilities; animal environment, housing, and management; veterinary medical care; and physical plant. Responsibilities of institutional officials, institutional animal care and use committees, investigators, and veterinarians are discussed in each chapter.
In 1991, an ad hoc committee appointed by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources (ILAR) recommended that the Guide be revised. The Committee to Revise the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals was appointed in 1993 by the National Research Council; its 15 members included research scientists, veterinarians, and nonscientists representing bioethics and the public's interest in animal welfare.
Before revision began, written and oral comments on the Guide were solicited widely from the scientific community and the general public. Open meetings were held in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 1993; in San Francisco, California, on February 2, 1994; and in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 4, 1994. Comments made at those meetings and written comments were considered by the committee and contributed substantially to this revision of the Guide.
The committee acknowledges the contributions of William I. Gay and Bennett J. Cohen in the development of the original Guide. In 1959, Animal Care Panel (ACP) President Cohen appointed the Committee on Ethical Considerations in the Care of Laboratory Animals to evaluate animal care and use. That committee was chaired by Dr. Gay, who soon recognized that the committee could not evaluate animal-care programs objectively without appropriate criteria on which to base its evaluations; that is, standards were needed. The ACP executive committee agreed, and the Professional Standards Committee was appointed. NIH later awarded the ACP a contract to "determine and establish a professional standard for laboratory animal care and facilities." Dr. Cohen chaired the ACP Animal Facilities Standards Committee, which prepared the first Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care.
The Committee to Revise the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals expresses its appreciation to the Animal Welfare Information Center, National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for its assistance in compiling bibliographies and references. This task would have been quite formidable without their help. Appreciation is also extended to the reviewers of the volume, to Norman Grossblatt for editing the manuscript, to Carol Rozmiarek for providing exemplary secretarial assistance and preparing multiple drafts, and to Thomas L. Wolfle, who managed the process from beginning to end.
Readers who detect errors of omission or commission
are invited to send corrections and suggestions to the Institute
of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 2101
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20418.
Derrell Clark, Chairman
Committee to Revise the Guide for the
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
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