Which agency must inspect biomedical research labs annually?

• A. CDC
• B. NIH
• C. USDA
• D. OMB

Answer: (C)

Federal oversight of animal research facilities is driven by the Animal Welfare Act, enforced by USDA APHIS Animal Care. Under the AWA, institutions that house regulated warm-blooded vertebrates must be registered and are subject to annual inspections to ensure humane care, appropriate housing, veterinary care, and accurate record-keeping. These inspections verify compliance with welfare standards across research, teaching, and exhibition settings. While NIH and other agencies require IACUC oversight under PHS Policy, and while budgeting and oversight fall under OMB, the routine annual facility inspections of labs for welfare compliance are a USDA responsibility under the AWA. Note that some common research animals, like mice and rats bred for research, aren’t covered by the AWA, so those facilities rely more on IACUC reviews and PHS Policy rather than USDA inspections.