What is the purpose of an 'animal use protocol' number and how is it used?

• A. It uniquely identifies a project in the IACUC system; used for approvals, amendments, and tracking.
• B. It indicates the funding amount.
• C. It designates the room where the study occurs.
• D. It is the PI's personal identification number.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that an animal use protocol number is a unique reference tied to a specific approved research plan under IACUC oversight. This number lets the institution track and manage the entire protocol—what species and numbers of animals are involved, the procedures to be performed, required welfare safeguards, endpoints, and training—through all administrative steps. Researchers use this identifier when seeking initial approval, submitting amendments or modifications, and during annual or continuing reviews, inspections, and reporting. It provides traceability and accountability, ensuring changes to the project are reviewed and documented under the same approved framework.

It’s not about how much funding is provided, nor about which room the work happens in, nor the PI’s personal ID. Those are separate records; the protocol number specifically serves regulatory oversight and project tracking for animal use.