Which document governs day-to-day animal care tasks to ensure consistency?

• A. Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• B. Study protocol
• C. QA audit reports
• D. Facility policies

Answer: (A)

Standard operating procedures provide written, step-by-step instructions for routine activities, including daily animal care tasks like feeding, cage changes, handling, enrichment, and observations. Having these procedures in place ensures that every staff member performs the same steps in the same way, which keeps animal care consistent across time and across personnel. SOPs are designed for training and day-to-day use, with version control and approvals to maintain accuracy and compliance. In contrast, a study protocol describes the experimental plan, QA audit reports review performance after tasks are done, and facility policies set broad rules rather than detailed daily steps.