View source for AAALAC International

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'''AAALAC International''' is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in [[Frederick, Maryland]], that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guillen |first1=Javier |title=AAALAC International and government agencies |journal=JAALAS |date=2018 |volume=57 |issue=3 |page=228 |pmid=29784073}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gettayacamin |first1=Montip |title=AAALAC International standards and the accreditation process |journal=Toxicology Research |date=2017 |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=183-189 |doi=10.5487/TR.2017.33.3.183 |pmid=28744349}}</ref> The accreditation program started in 1965, when some veterinarians and researchers organized the '''American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care''', or AAALAC.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=JD |title=AAALAC history through 1990 |journal=Contep Topics in LAS |date=1997 |volume=36 |issue=6 |page=39 |pmid=16450974}}</ref> In 1996, AAALAC changed its name to the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International). The organization said the name change reflected the organization's growth in other countries and its commitment to enhancing life sciences and quality animal care around the world. Since 2016, the organization is officially known only by its acronym, AAALAC International.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aaalac.org/about/history/long-version/).text |title=History (Long Version) |website=AAALAC International |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> There are currently about 1,000 organizations worldwide accredited through its program.

Along with meeting all applicable local and national regulations, AAALAC accredited institutions must also demonstrate that they are achieving the standards outlined in the ''Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals'', a document published since 1996 by the [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] of the [[U.S. National Academy of Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies |publisher=The National Academies Press |title=Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals |edition=8 |url=https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/guide-for-the-care-and-use-of-laboratory-animals.pdf |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aaalac.org/index.cfm AAALAC home page]</ref> The ''Guide'' includes standards go beyond what is required by law.

==See also==
*[[Animal welfare]]
*[[Animal testing]]
*[[American Association for Laboratory Animal Science]], a U.S. nonprofit organization
*[[Animal Welfare Act of 1966]], a U.S. law
*[[Food Security Act of 1985]], a U.S. law
*''[[In vivo]]''

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Association For Assessment And Accreditation Of Laboratory Animal Care International}}

[[Category:Animal testing]]
[[Category:Animal welfare organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Research methods]]
[[Category:Laboratory animals]]
[[Category:Accreditation organizations]]

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