# From a monitoring visit to *a clear follow-up*. Of 13 IACUC programs whose post-approval monitoring (PAM) procedures we read, 7 book a visit to the lab, check the work against the protocol and send the PI a report. The other 6 work in 5 different ways, from watching a live procedure (2) to a video meeting, an interview, rounds on a watch list and twice-yearly facility visits (1 each). [Open the Compliance block](https://streamcell.com/library/compliance) · [See the checklist](https://streamcell.com/library/post-approval-monitoring#the-checklist) ## Key facts - **Programs compared**: 13, from their public procedures, October 2026 - **Ways it's done**: 6 - **Part of**: [The Compliance block](https://streamcell.com/library/compliance) ## What the procedures reveal Three findings a compliance officer would stop on. - **10 of 13**: pick protocols by pain or invasiveness category. 8 state how often, from twice a year to once in four years. - **4 of 13**: let the PI or lab answer the findings before the committee sees them. - **2 of 13**: publish their full checklist, though 5 send the PI a checklist or scope template before the visit. ## Where do PAM programs part ways? One path from the notice to the IACUC, and the four points where the 13 programs split. 1. **The PI or lab is told a review is coming** (11 of 13 programs) 2. **How does the review reach the lab?** - A booked lab visit: 7 of 13 - Watching a procedure: 2 of 13 - A video meeting: 1 of 13 - Records and an interview: 1 of 13 - Rounds on a watch list: 1 of 13 - Twice-yearly facility visits: 1 of 13 3. **And if a review finds a welfare problem?** - Straight to the vet or the IACUC: 8 of 13 - A noncompliance or incident report: 2 of 13 - Not stated: 3 of 13 4. **Who sends the findings on?** - The IACUC office or committee: 6 of 13 - PAM or compliance staff: 5 of 13 - A vet: 1 of 13 - An IACUC-appointed monitor: 1 of 13 5. **A written report or summary goes to the PI** (10 of 13 programs) 6. **Does the lab answer before the IACUC sees the findings?** - No lab step first: the IACUC or its chair has them: 9 of 13 - Yes: the PI or lab answers first: 4 of 13 7. **The IACUC hears the findings** (13 of 13 programs) Each dot is one of the 13 programs whose procedure we read. Where one way clearly leads at a fork, it is outlined. ## How does a PAM review reach the lab? The first fork, way by way: how the review reaches the lab. - **A booked lab visit** (7 of 13 programs): The PI is told and a time is booked. Reviewers check the lab against the protocol, talk it through, then send a written report. - **Watching a procedure** (2 of 13 programs): A PAM team watches a planned procedure and sends a summary of refinements. - **A video meeting** (1 of 13 programs): A small committee meets the lab by video for about an hour, and the office sends a summary. - **Records and an interview** (1 of 13 programs): A subcommittee reads the records and interviews the PI by phone, email or in person. - **Rounds on a watch list** (1 of 13 programs): Vet techs check the animals on the IACUC's watch list every month. - **Twice-yearly facility visits** (1 of 13 programs): Committee members visit each facility twice a year with a site visit form. Each dot is one program whose procedure we read. Counted from public procedures, October 2026. On the visiting team, a separate count from who sends the findings on: staff or vets with no committee member required at 6 of 13, committee members at 7. 5 of 13 can put the work on hold, and 8 state that a welfare problem found on a visit goes straight to the vet or the IACUC. At 3, [sick animal reports](https://streamcell.com/library/sick-animal-report) feed PAM. ## What does a PAM checklist check? How many of 12 programs list each check. **PAM visit** (PAM). Statuses: Selected, Scheduled, Visit done, With PI, With IACUC, Closed. Counts are of 12 programs’ checklists. **Protocol and visit** - Protocol (Text, required): 3 of 12 - PI (User, required): 2 of 12 - Visit type (Dropdown, required) - Why selected (Dropdown, required) - Visit date (Date and time, required): 3 of 12 - Format (Dropdown, required) - Rooms visited (Link: Housing Room): 1 of 12 - Visiting team (User, required): 2 of 12 - Surgery on protocol (Checkbox) **Protocol and people** - Work matches protocol (Dropdown, required): 10 of 12 - Training documented (Dropdown, required): 7 of 12 - Everyone listed on protocol (Dropdown, required): 5 of 12 - Animal numbers tracked (Dropdown, required): 4 of 12 **Anesthesia, surgery, post-op** (opens when the workflow reaches it) - Anesthesia as approved (Dropdown, required): 4 of 12 - Surgery as approved (Dropdown, required): 3 of 12 - Aseptic technique (Dropdown, required): 3 of 12 - Analgesia as approved (Dropdown, required): 3 of 12 - Post-op care documented (Dropdown, required): 5 of 12 **Euthanasia, records, rooms** - Euthanasia as approved (Dropdown, required): 6 of 12 - Records available (Dropdown, required): 6 of 12 - Drugs and supplies in date (Dropdown, required): 3 of 12 - Lab safe and clean (Dropdown, required): 5 of 12 - Housing acceptable (Dropdown, required): 4 of 12 **Findings** (opens when the workflow reaches it) - Findings (Table): 5 of 12 - Welfare concern (Checkbox) - Work on hold (Checkbox) - Recommendations (Rich text): 3 of 12 - Response due (Date) **PI response** (opens when the workflow reaches it) - PI response (Rich text, required) - Amendment submitted (Checkbox) 12 of the 13 programs list what a review checks. 2 publish a full form, rated item by item (24 and 53 items). 10 of 12 check that the work matches the approved protocol, 7 check training records and 6 euthanasia. The lists hold 90 different checks, and 58 appear at one program only, such as whether animals taken to a teaching lab are back in the vivarium within 12 hours. ## Find your starting point Answer yes or no to find the programs that work like yours. 1. Does someone from the IACUC side come into your lab or animal rooms for it? 2. Is it a routine round of every room or of a watch list, rather than a visit booked for one protocol? 3. Is it a site visit of the whole facility by committee members, once or twice a year? 4. Do they come to watch a procedure being done live? 5. Is it a video meeting with your lab? - **A booked lab visit**: You work like 7 of the 13, the most common way. - **Watching a procedure**: You work like 2 of the 13. - **A video meeting**: You work like 1 of the 13. - **Records and an interview**: You work like 1 of the 13. - **Rounds on a watch list**: You work like 1 of the 13. The watch list becomes a saved view. - **Twice-yearly facility visits**: You work like 1 of the 13. ## What do the rules ask for? Oversight and the power to suspend. None sets how often a protocol is visited or what a checklist holds. - **Animal Welfare Act regulations (9 CFR 2.31):** the IACUC inspects every animal facility, including study areas, at least every six months, and can suspend work not done as approved, by a vote at a convened meeting. - **The Guide:** continuing IACUC oversight after approval is required by federal rules and policy. IACUC, vet, animal care and compliance staff may all do PAM. - **In Canada, the CCAC:** each institution sets its own PAM procedures and says who does what. ## How does Streamcell run it? The default is the most common way: a booked visit and a report to the PI. 1. **Selected**: Noor Adler's protocol ISH-1009 is picked for its survival surgery. Schedule the visit emails her the date. 2. **Visit**: Robin Mace and an IACUC member visit and fill in the checklist. Jules Ferreira shows the post-op records for animal 7756, linked to its health case HC-0184. 3. **With the PI**: Send report to PI locks the findings, emails Noor and opens her response section. A daily check chases a late answer. 4. **With the IACUC**: Send to IACUC readies it for the next meeting. Close visit tells Noor and locks the record. Ticking Welfare concern emails the vet and the IACUC chair at once. Your IACUC system stays where it is: the protocol number is typed in. PI-first and committee-first programs run as two workflows, because Streamcell has no if-then step. ## The research behind this guide We read the public PAM procedures of 13 animal care programs in the US and Canada, mostly universities, in October 2026, and recorded who visits, how protocols are picked and whether the lab answers the findings before the IACUC sees them. Counts are programs, not documents. ## Start from the *Compliance block* Post-approval monitoring, semiannual inspections and the other IACUC jobs, as one package your team changes to fit. [Open the Compliance block](https://streamcell.com/library/compliance) --- Source: https://streamcell.com/library/post-approval-monitoring Last reviewed: 2026-10-16 Streamcell is made by Iseehear Inc., 250 University Avenue, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5H 3E5, Canada. Book a demo: https://streamcell.com/demo