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I. Purpose:

To describe the veterinary verification and consultation (VVC) review process for approving changes to a previously approved protocol.

II. Significant Changes Allowable with VVC

Specific changes (amendments) to a protocol may be processed and verified by the Program Veterinarian (PV) without full committee review (FCR) or designated member review (DMR).

  1. Refinements of non-surgical or surgical procedure, or other procedure resulting in less potential for pain or distress or decreased invasiveness.
  2. Changes in euthanasia to any method approved in the current AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.
  3. The PV may use discretion and professional judgment to approve minor procedural changes if the changes will not unduly impact animal welfare (i.e., lessens or involves equivalent pain, acute or chronic stress, distress) and are consistent with current standards of veterinary practice or specifically addressed in AACUC approved policies or species specific procedure documents. Common examples include:
    1. Changes related to blood collection (e.g., frequency, volume, vessel access).
    2. Revision of sample collection intervals or total samples collected.
    3. Substitution of one accepted biopsy method for another. Altering the interval between procedures (e.g., lengthening an imaging episode or the time between episodes).
    4. Changing the method of identification.
    5. Addition of non-invasive sampling (e.g., fecal collection).

III. Significant changes that may not be handled administratively by VVC and must undergo either FCR or DMR include, but are not limited to:

  1. A change from non-survival to survival surgery
  2. Any change resulting in greater pain, distress or degree of invasiveness
  3. A change in housing or use of animals in a location that is not part of the animal program overseen by the AACUC
  4. A change in study objectives
  5. A change in Principal Investigator
  6. A change that impacts the safety of personnel
  7. A change in the method of euthanasia not approved by the AVMA Guidelines for Euthanasia of Animals
  8. Addition of a new procedure

III. VVC Process

All significant changes to the protocol must be submitted to the AACUC for review. Protocols will be assigned to VVC if the change meets the criteria described above.  The PV is authorized by the AACUC to verify that the requested changes are in compliance with MSU AACUC Policies and appropriate for the specific situation and animal(s). The PV may refer any VVC request to the AACUC for review for any reason.

 

AACUC Approval Date: 12/16/2025

Review Date: 12/16/2025

Issue Date: 12/19/2025