Which term describes the voluntary accreditation program for animal care facilities under the PHS policy?

• A. NIH endorsement
• B. AAALAC accreditation
• C. OLAW certification
• D. USDA approval

Answer: (B)

AAALAC accreditation is the voluntary external review of an animal care program under the PHS policy. AAALAC International, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, conducts on-site evaluations against its Standards, which align with established guidelines for animal care and use. Earning accreditation means the facility meets or exceeds rigorous benchmarks for areas like housing and husbandry, veterinary care, staff training, IACUC processes, and recordkeeping. This voluntary status is a way to demonstrate to funding agencies and regulators that the program maintains high standards beyond the minimum legal requirements. Under the PHS policy, institutions must have an Assurance with OLAW, and OLAW recognizes AAALAC accreditation as credible external validation of compliance. The other options refer to different regulatory or approval pathways that are not the voluntary accreditation program recognized in this context.