Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC) Guidelines

Please note: The guidelines, policies, and resource documents featured on this page are intended for the NIH Intramural Research Program and are not to be considered guidance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) or any other oversight entity.

A. Administrative:

a1-usda.pdf (377.01 KB)
, 12/13/2023
a2_medical_records.pdf (296.75 KB)
, 12/13/2023
a3_collecting_and_releasing_animal_images_and_audio_recordings.pdf (238.81 KB)
, 06/28/2023
a4_research_animal_disposition.pdf (250.78 KB)
, 03/26/2025

B. Animal Care and Use Procedures:

NIH Animal Transportation Guidelines
1. b1-1_rodenttransportation.pdf (259.5 KB)
  , 12/10/2025
2. B1b_NonrodentTransport.pdf (274.03 KB)
  , 03/22/2023
b2-survival_blood_collection_mice_rats.pdf (359.25 KB)
, 12/10/2025
b3-rodent-genotyping.pdf (159.07 KB)
, 12/11/2024
Euthanasia of Rodent Fetuses and Neonates ARCHIVED
b5_euthanasia_of_rodents_using_carbon_dioxide.pdf (161.45 KB)
, 01/24/2024
b6-rodent_survival_surgery_.pdf (290.75 KB)
, 04/22/2026 REVISED
b7_dietcontrol_0.pdf (231.84 KB)
, 03/22/2023
b8_adjuvants.pdf (221.24 KB)
, 03/26/2025
Toe Clipping of Rodents ARCHIVED
Ascites Production in Mice ARCHIVED
b11_xenopus_oocyte_collection.pdf (194.78 KB)
, 04/23/2025
b12-PainDistress.pdf (815.08 KB)
, 12/13/2023
b13_endpoints_guidelines.pdf (358.13 KB)
, 03/26/2025
b14_pharmaceutical_compounds.pdf (291.85 KB)
, 04/26/2023
b15-expiredmedicalproducts.pdf (173.19 KB)
, 01/22/2025
b16_preservative-free_pharmaceuticals.pdf (222.41 KB)
, 10/23/2024
b17_zebrafish.pdf (335.88 KB)
, 07/26/2023
b18_mousebreedinggroups.pdf (179.46 KB)
, 05/28/2025
b19_Guidelines for Zebrafish Satellite Facilities.pdf (173.02 KB)
, 01/24/2024

C. Animal Care and Use Committee:

c1_classifying_sa_inspection_deficiencies.pdf (165.78 KB)
, 05/24/2023
c2-Responding-Complaints.pdf (250.04 KB)
, 07/26/2023
1. Communicating-Concerns-2022_0.pdf (108.47 KB)
  , 09/23/2022
c3-reviewapprovalanimalactivities.pdf (219.88 KB)
, 04/22/2026 REVISED
c4_collaborative_animal_studies.pdf (281.12 KB)
, 04/26/2023
c5-guidelines-for-communication-between-user-and-lead-acucs.pdf (192.84 KB)
, 01/28/2026
Review and Approval of Animal Study Proposals and Significant Changes, Combined with Guideline C3 (above)
c7_satellite_lab_oversight.pdf (163.95 KB)
, 06/26/2024
c8-acucmembership.pdf (171.95 KB)
, 04/23/2025
c9_asp_instructions.pdf (429.8 KB)
, 09/22/2021 UNDER REVISION
C10-Assessment-Reporting-Adverse-Events_0.pdf (318.99 KB)
, 07/26/2023

D. Facility Management:

d1_cohousing.pdf (217.12 KB)
, 01/28/2026
d2-personalprotection.pdf (490.61 KB)
, 12/10/2025
D3-NHP-TB-Prevention.pdf (362.15 KB)
, 06/28/2023
d4_general_species_environmental_enrichment.pdf (329.2 KB)
, 05/24/2023
1. d4a_environmental_enrichment_of_rodents.pdf (316.73 KB)
  , 07/26/2023
2. d4b_behavioral_management_of_nonhuman_primates.pdf (214.05 KB)
  , 01/24/2024
3. d4c_environmental_enrichment_of_aquatic_species.pdf (162.78 KB)
  , 01/24/2024
d5-socialhousing.pdf (178.88 KB)
, 01/22/2025