ILAR - The Guide

The Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:
A committee will update the 1996 version of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) to reflect new scientific information related to the issues already covered in the Guide, and to add discussion and guidance on new topics of laboratory animal care and use related to state-of-the-art animal research programs. Specifically, the committee will review the scientific literature published since the release of the 1996 Guide and determine whether the information currently in the Guide concurs with current scientific evidence. The committee will also review the literature related to new technologies related to laboratory animal care and use and determine where new guidance is necessary to ensure the best scientific outcomes and optimal animal welfare.
Project details

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, also known as "The Guide," is not only the basis for AAALAC International accreditation, but is also central to the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Guide's recommendations carry the force of law based on the Health Research Extension Act passed by Congress in 1985.

The Guide is intended to assist IACUCs, researchers, and veterinarians in fulfilling their obligation to plan, conduct, and oversee animal experiments in accordance with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.The Guide makes recommendations for humane animal care and use based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices proven consistent with high-quality, humane animal care and use.

Written in general terms, the Guide emphasizes performance goals—not engineering approaches.

To Request One Free Copy:
E-mail OLAW at OLAW@od.nih.gov.

To Purchase Multiple Copies
Contact: National Academies Press at www.nap.edu
Phone: 888-624-8373 or 202-334-3313
Fax: 202-334-2451

International Translations
The Guide is recognized worldwide as a resource for laboratory animal research facilities. Currently, the Guide can be read and ordered online in Chinese, English, French , Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish , and Taiwanese translations.