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Laboratory animal program receives accreditation by Megan Fink Public Relations For the eighth consecutive triannual site visit, the Council on Accreditation of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International) has awarded the MUSC/Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center full accreditation that will extend for three years. The laboratory program was called “exemplary” by the site visit team and the AAALAC Council for its care and use of animals.      “Especially noteworthy were the administrative commitment to the program as evidenced by a spirit of cooperation among the administration, animal care personnel, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members, as well as clear lines of communication,” stated John F. Bradfield, DVM, Ph.D., AAALAC president.   Other areas receiving high marks included MUSC’s investment in new equipment throughout the program; funding of ongoing construction and renovation projects; documentation of IACUC meeting minutes, annual reports and semi-annual program reviews and facilities inspections; creation of compliance officer and monitor positions; highly-skilled professional, technical and husbandry staff; and ideal levels of sanitation and facility maintenance.   “Full accreditation from AAALAC International is the gold standard for accreditation of programs for the care and use of laboratory animals internationally,” said Michael Swindle, DVM, director, Ddivision of Laboratory Animal Resources. “We are grateful for the administrative support from central administration and from the cooperation of the research faculty and staff which has been essential for us achieving this standard eight times in a row since our first accreditation in 1987.”     Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.