What must be included in IACUC meeting minutes?

The requirement for IACUC meeting minutes is primarily to document the essential elements of the meeting that contribute to maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. This includes matters such as attendance records, which help verify that a quorum is present for decision-making, and the decisions made regarding protocols and alternatives considered during the meeting.

Including attendance and decisions made provides a transparent record of the discussions and approvals (or disapprovals) that occurred, which is critical for demonstrating adherence to ethical standards in animal research. This documentation is necessary for both internal review and scrutiny by external oversight bodies, ensuring accountability in the IACUC's functions.

In contrast, while detailed accounts of all experiments conducted may be relevant to the overarching goals of the research, they are typically documented elsewhere and not required in the meeting minutes. Reports from outside agencies and financial matters, while potentially important for institutional governance, do not directly pertain to the core responsibilities and operations of the IACUC within the context of meeting minutes.