LAFAYETTE - A United States Department of Agriculture investigation of the New Iberia Research Center in March 2009 was closed today. USDA cited NIRC with six process deficiencies. A subsequent visit by USDA concluded all of the deficiencies had been properly addressed.
The investigation was closed when NIRC agreed to the USDA's settlement offer. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to resolve alleged violations prior to the issuance of a formal complaint.
NIRC agreed to the terms, which included paying $18,000 and waiving their right to a hearing. The agreement also stated that NIRC is neither admitting nor denying that any of the citations took place or constitute violations.
"We can now continue with the mission of the center which is advancing national public health," said Dr. Thomas J. Rowell, NIRC director. "This demonstrates how this industry is heavily regulated and how many safeguards exist to promote good animal care."
NIRC plays a vital role in research that advances the nation's public health. Its researchers make numerous contributions to public health improvements for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, mumps, measles, chicken pox and mad cow disease.
Advances are also being made in the development of antiviral compounds, therapeutic proteins, gene therapy and in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
NIRC administrators and researchers take seriously their responsibility to care for the animals housed at the center.
In October 2009, the Council on Accreditation of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care confirmed that NIRC's animal care and use program conformed to the Council's standards as set forth by the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The Council issued a full accreditation to NIRC.

1- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee did not have written documentation to show that it discussed alternative ways to sedate chimpanzees.
Correction: The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee now requires this documentation to be provided before any chimpanzee is sedated.
2 - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee did not require NIRC to describe in a detailed manner two procedures used on some of the animals.
Correction: NIRC has provided detailed descriptions to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee on these procedures, involving sedation methods for chimpanzees housed socially and acclimation procedures for pole and collar chair studies.
3 - NIRC did not have a sufficient program for monitoring animals recovering from sedation.
Correction: NIRC standard operating procedures now require a technician to continuously monitor animals until they are fully recovered from sedation.
4 - Standard methods for lifting and moving sedated chimpanzees were deemed inadequate.
Correction: NIRC revised its standard methods for lifting and moving sedated chimpanzees to use specialized stretchers.
5 - NIRC was cited for failing to provide adequate shelter to some African green monkeys during unusually cold weather.
Correction: NIRC improved cold weather protection for all African green monkeys by upgrading supplemental heat options and installing infrared heating.
6 - NIRC did not document in writing when animals were unable to be pair-housed.
Correction: NIRC now provides written documentation when animals are unable to be pair-housed.


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