Achieving the integrity of research using animals for experiments requires accredited laboratory animal building that hosts animals and assures health and well-being of both human and animal users. The functions of LAB should be arranged in a way to isolate dirty parts from clean parts; thus, movement flow is one-way from clean parts to the dirty area. Taking into consideration different traffic flows of staff, animal cages, materials, food, and waste, in an order which minimizes contamination risks. Accreditation awarded by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)is internationally recognized as a sign of quality and good science. It demonstrates accountability to international research and scientific society, promotes scientific Validity and Reliable results, and provides assurance in a Global Marketplace. Acquiring accreditation stimulates continuous improvement and demonstrates serious concerns about ensuring animal well-being and conducting quality scientific research. This paper reviews international standard guidelines and the AAALAC building requirements and investigates their availability using a checklist method designed to study a case studying LAB at the University of Jordan. The checklists survey design elements of LAB which are: Basic components and functions; Functional adjacencies; Traffic flow patterns and spatial relationships; building characteristics and Macro-environment. Collected data of existing condition are compared with building standards of AAALAC. Results indicate fulfillment degree of each item, such as design and room environment in accordance with standards. Conclusions are put in an overall rehabilitation plan to improve the existing animal building in order to qualify for the AAALAC accreditation requirements. Achieving improvements is intended to enable the Laboratory Animal Building at the University of Jordan to apply and acquire the AAALAC accreditation.
Volume 12 | 04-Special Issue
Pages: 1936-1952
DOI: 10.5373/JARDCS/V12SP4/20202069