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Veterinary Verification and Consultation (VVC)

Number: IACUC-POL-014 

Responsible Office: Office of Research and Creative Scholarship (ORCS)  

Applies to: IACUC Committee and Attending Veterinarian  

1. Purpose 

Veterinary Verification and Consultation (VVC) is a process that allows the Attending Veterinarian (AV) to approve certain modifications to an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved protocol without requiring a formal protocol amendment. This process ensures that animal welfare is maintained while facilitating necessary refinements to research procedures in a timely manner. Changes approved through VVC must be consistent with current veterinary standards and established institutional guidelines. 

2. Procedure  

Implementation of VVC Changes: 

1. Submit the proposed amendment to the IACUC Manager: If the submitted amendment is within the purview of the VVC, the AV will alert the Principal Investigator (PI). 
2. Documentation: All approved VVC modifications will be approved by the AV and documented via the VVC Documentation Form. This form will be saved in the PI folder. 
3. Consistency with Institutional Guidelines: VVC approvals must align with IACUC-approved policies and SOPs, regulatory standards, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.  

Restrictions on the VVC 

Changes that significantly impact the scientific objectives, and animal welfare, or introduce new experimental procedures that fall outside of established guidelines require formal IACUC review and approval. 

Allowable Changes Under VVC 

The following modifications may be approved through the VVC process: 

1. Changes in Mouse Stock, Strain, or Genetic Modifications 
   1. Substituting closely related mouse strains or stocks with similar physiological, and behavioral characteristics. 
   2. Introduction of minor genetic modifications that do not significantly alter the animal’s health status, behavior, or experimental outcomes.  
2. Modifications to Husbandry 
   1. Adjustments in caging types or enrichment strategies that enhance animal welfare. This does not include transitioning from standard caging to metabolic chambers, though the reverse is permitted.  
   2. Changes in bedding type, nesting materials, or environmental conditions that do not impact the research outcome.  
3. Dietary and Hydration Strategies 
   1. Substituting standard chow with a nutritionally equivalent diet.  
   2. Alternative hydration sources such as water bottles, hydrogel packs, or apple slices are allowable to maintain hydration, especially in water restriction studies, or studies that include environmental conditions that preclude potable water (e.g. low environmental temperatures).  
4. Changes in the Use of Experimental Substances 
   1. Adjustments in concentration, volume, or frequency of administration of experimental compounds, provided the changes do not exceed established safety parameters. 
   2. Modifications to the route of administration (e.g., subcutaneous to intraperitoneal) based on veterinary guidance and approved institutional SOPs.  
   3. Substitutions of equivalent pharmaceutical-grade compounds for approved drugs when necessary.  
5. Modifications to Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Sedation 
   1. Adjustments to anesthetic, sedative, or analgesic regimens within the limits of institutionally approved SOPs and veterinary formularies. 
   2. Substituting anesthetics, sedatives, and analgesics with equivalent agents that maintain effective pain control and anesthesia depths within the limits of approved guidelines, SOPs, and veterinary formularies.  
6. Changes in the Method of Euthanasia 
   1. Substitution of one AVMA-approved euthanasia method for another (e.g., CO2, euthanasia with secondary cervical dislocation to pentobarbital overdose with secondary cervical dislocation).  
   2. Refinement of euthanasia procedures to improve animal welfare and minimization of distress.  
   3. Adjustments to AVMA-approved euthanasia techniques based on species-specific considerations and veterinary recommendations.  

3.  References 

1. : OLAW Special Seminar, August 21, 2014 
2. : OLAW Online Seminar, September 8, 2016 
3. Guidance on Significant Changes to Animal Activities: 

4. Review, Approval and Versions History 

Review and approval version history for this policy

Version	Date	Description of Changes	Approved By
1.0	April 10 ,2018	Initial policy creation	IACUC Committee
2.0	January 11, 2021	Reviewed	IACUC Manager
3.0	April 8, 2025	Review and update of policy	IACUC Committee