The University of Washington is inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture at least annually, as are all institutions registered to conduct animal research in compliance with the regulations and standards of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). These inspections — of records, the research facilities, and the animals in them — are unannounced. Additionally, we promptly report non-compliant incidents to the USDA and other regulatory and oversight bodies, and these may be reviewed during an inspection.
We are voluntarily posting the USDA inspection reports, as well as other official USDA communications and enforcement actions, because we believe in openness and transparency about the important work that we do. Summaries of each are provided below. Click the title to see the full report or communication.
USDA Inspection Reports
October 8, 2024, Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: Two instances where animal activities involving non-human primates were not fully described and approved in the associated IACUC protocols. |
Staff training has been reinforced to ensure adherence to established policies and guidelines. In one instance, animal work has also been voluntarily paused while the associated protocol is revised to include a complete and accurate description of the work to be performed. In the other instance, additional oversight has been implemented along with continued personnel management efforts to ensure compliance. |
| Self-reported: Four non-human primates sustained an injury in relation to an out of enclosure event. |
All animals were provided with prompt veterinary care and have since recovered. All staff have undergone retraining, and new job aids have been created to ensure enclosures are properly secured. |
| Self-reported: Continuous light exposure in a small number of primate rooms due to a programming error in the automatic light schedule and a failure in the alarm system. |
Measures were implemented to ensure that the underlying programming error is addressed and that diurnal light cycles are maintained within all rooms. |
March 26, 2024, Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
January 30, 2024, Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
November 28, 2023, Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
September 12, 2023 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: Three instances where animal activities involving rabbits, ground squirrels, and a non-human primate were not fully described and approved in the associated IACUC protocols. |
The related protocols were promptly amended to ensure a complete and accurate description of the work being performed. |
| Self-reported: A non-human primate sustained an injury during the placement of a recording device by a trainee. |
The animal was provided with prompt veterinary care and has since recovered. To prevent future incidents, the research group has implemented a more structured training program and refined the procedure for device placement. |
| Self-reported: A non-human primate under anesthesia died during routine implant maintenance. An investigation revealed that the portable anesthesia machine used did not function correctly with the attached circuit, leading to the animal’s death. |
The faulty machine was immediately removed from use and additional preventative measures introduced, including refining leak and pressure checks for portable anesthesia machines and placing emergency kits in procedure spaces to enhance emergency response capabilities. |
| Self-reported: A non-human primate on study did not receive its daily ration of water due to a miscommunication between lab staff and husbandry staff. |
Upon discovery of the oversight, the animal was immediately assessed by a veterinarian and provided with fluids. No abnormalities were noted in the examination or bloodwork.
To prevent similar incidents, the research group has streamlined the process for providing water to animals in these types of studies and implemented a mandatory documentation form on animal room doors to track water provision. Husbandry staff will be expected to verify daily water provision and contact information for lab staff will be readily available for clarification if needed. |
March 21, 2023 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: In one indoor primate room, there were 5 separate occasions where the temperature was above 85 degrees F for more than 4 hours. There were no noted impacts to animal health during these times. |
When the temperature deviations were noted, an additional HVAC unit was activated and fans placed to provide increased air circulation. The main HVAC unit was evaluated by both onsite facility staff and an outside vendor. A partition was added inside the duct system of the main HVAC unit to further separate the intake and outflow air, returning room temperatures to normal. The out of range temperature alarm system is tested daily to ensure system is sending out notifications. |
November 8, 2021 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
August 31, 2021 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
August 12, 2021 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| In one indoor primate room, there were 2 separate occasions where the temperature was above 85 degrees F for more than 4 hours. There were no noted impacts to animal health during these times. |
When the temperature deviations were noted, inside doors were opened and fans placed to provide increased air circulation until the HVAC unit was reset and returned temperatures to normal. Out of range temperature alarm system is tested daily to ensure system is sending out notifications. |
|
| Evidence of rodents in the building housing primates. |
Installation of door sweeps, live rodent traps, and foam placement around the foundation and roof are being used to keep rodents out of the building. |
July 28, 2021 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
April 15, 2021 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
January 26, 2021 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: Rabbits did not received required daily checks over a weekend. All animals were assessed by a veterinarian and appeared healthy. The twice daily room check procedure has been revised such that a different technician will perform the AM and PM checks whenever possible as added insurance that all animals are checked daily. |
The twice daily room check procedure has been revised such that a different technician will perform the AM and PM checks whenever possible as added insurance that all animals are checked daily. |
|
| Self-reported: 1 NHP was left in a trapping run for at least 12 hours without access to food or water. It was observed in the compound on Sunday morning and was not observed in the compound during the afternoon check. The technician thought the animal had been moved to another location. It was found on the next morning check and received immediate clinical care. |
Personnel actions for those employees that did not follow procedure and confirm the location of the animal. Water bottles are being placed on the trapping runs. Adding a verification of animal count to the duties of the veterinary technician at the end of the day such that there are at least three separate individuals that verify that animals are in their correct locations daily. |
|
| Self-reported: A big male NHP broke 2 locks on the connector between side-by-side cages that are used for social housing and escaped into the room along with its female cage mate. Both animals along with several other NHPs in the room were injured. All were treated by veterinary staff and recovered. |
Staff regularly check all caging to ensure that it is properly attached and the animals are safe in their enclosures. During cage changes cages are evaluated for damage or wear that could result in future equipment failures, and repairs are made. |
December 1, 2020 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: A young NHP removed a feeder and exited the enclosure through the feeder opening. It climbed onto another enclosure where a NHP pulled its arm through the 1 x 1 inch mesh enclosure. The NHP received immediate veterinary care for multiple injuries that resulted in its left arm being amputated. |
Feeder opening has been modified so that even if the feeder is removed, the opening is too small for a NHP to fit through it. |
January 3, 2020 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
December 4, 2019 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
June 4, 2019 – Seattle
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| Self-reported: An incident of diversion of a controlled substance led to one nonhuman primate possibly receiving less than the optimum dosing of an opioid analgesic during clinical treatment. The animal did receive other pain relievers and did not appear clinically painful and recovered uneventfully. Also, during the inspection a controlled drug cabinet was found open and unattended with the key in the lock. |
The employee involved in the incident has been terminated from employment. This drug has been transferred to a central safe with limited access and is not in the lock box at the individual facilities. If an animal needs the medication, aliquots are taken out to do the treatment. The principal investigator of the lab with the open drug cabinet has placed a reminder sign on the procedure room door where the drug cabinet is located and reassigned the individual responsible for controlled substances in the lab. In addition, the research facility has reiterated the expectation that all researchers must keep their controlled substances secure at all times. |
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| Self-reported: A nonhuman primate underwent surgery and died during the recovery period. The animal had only an abbreviated fast, had vomitted and ingesta was aspirated, which may have been a contributing factor. |
We had instituted corrective actions prior to this inspection. The facility SOP is revised to include if an animal has not been fasted appropriately, the research procedure will be rescheduled. The only exceptions would be in an emergency or clinical case, and must be approved by the Attending Veterinarian or the Associate Director, Department of Primate Resources. |
March 12, 2019 – Arizona
| Items Identified for Correction |
Corrective Action Plan |
| No non-compliant items identified |
Hoverboard 10.5 upgrade has occurred.