IACUC Protocol Management with Colony Software
Summary
Every animal in a research facility must be covered by an approved IACUC protocol, and when an inspector asks "show me every animal on protocol 2024-0037," the answer needs to be immediate and complete. Colony management software that links protocols to animals turns a painful annual reconciliation into a one-click report.
The Protocol-to-Animal Link
In Colony.care, each animal is linked to its governing IACUC protocol. When you add animals to a study, they inherit the protocol assignment. When animals move between studies, the protocol link updates. The system tracks protocol approval dates and expiration dates, it warns you before animals are assigned to an expired protocol.
Annual Reports, One Click
The annual IACUC report that used to take days of spreadsheet reconciliation now takes one click: Colony.care generates a protocol usage report showing every animal assigned to each protocol, by species, by pain category, by housing location, for any time period. The data is already in the system, structured, current, and auditable. You are not rebuilding it from memory and scattered records.
AAALAC Inspection Readiness
AAALAC site visitors expect to see: a current animal census by species and location, protocol assignments for every animal, training records for every person handling animals, and an audit trail showing who changed what and when. Colony.care makes all four available from a single platform. No scrambling, no "let me find that spreadsheet."
FAQ
Can Colony.care track protocol expiration dates?
Yes. Each protocol record includes approval and expiration dates. The system warns when animals are being assigned to an expiring protocol, and the dashboard flags protocols approaching their review date.
Does the annual report include pain category breakdowns?
Yes. Animals are categorized by USDA pain category (or CCAC invasiveness level) linked to their protocol. The annual report breaks down animal numbers by species, protocol, and category.