A national independent agency that oversees animal care programs worldwide has given high marks to Stanford’s Animal Care Facility. The agency also extended full accreditation to the university’s animal-care program for another three years.

The renewed accreditation by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, or AAALAC, followed a two-day site visit in November.

During the site visit, an AAALAC team scrutinized every aspect of the animal-care program, including protocols, staffing, training, veterinary care, disease prevention and the conditions in which animals are housed.

"The council commends you and your staff for providing and maintaining a high-quality program of laboratory animal care and use," Michael Ballinger, DVM, president of the group, said in a letter to Arthur Bienenstock, PhD, the university’s vice provost and dean of research.

AAALAC accreditation is considered the "Good Housekeeping" seal of approval for animal-care programs nationwide. The accrediation enables Stanford to receive grants from funding agencies who rely on AAALAC standards, among other things, said Linda Cork, DVM, PhD, professor and chair of comparative medicine at the medical school.