Which record documents approved experimental plans and procedures under the AWA/PHS policy?

• A. Protocols
• B. Amendments
• C. Training records
• D. Facility inspections

Answer: (A)

Protocols are the formal record of approved experimental plans and procedures under the AWA/PHS policy. They outline the scientific design, the species and number of animals, the specific procedures to be performed, and the welfare measures like anesthesia, analgesia, and humane endpoints. Before any animal work begins, the IACUC reviews and approves the protocol to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to balance scientific aims with animal welfare. If the plan needs changes after approval, those changes are made through amendments that modify the existing protocol, not by replacing it. Training records show who is qualified to perform the work, and facility inspections assess the environment and compliance, not the study design itself. Thus, the protocol is the document that records approved experimental plans and procedures.