Objective To investigate the detection capacity of malic enzyme 1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (Mod1 & Idh1) in the laboratory animal monitoring laboratories in China in order to understand the detection capacity of laboratories and to improve the detection level of laboratory animals' quality. Methods Based on the program approved by CNAS, samples preparing, homogeneity test and stability test of malic enzyme 1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 in the mouse kidneys were carried out. Standard operation procedure and samples with random numbers were distributed to the laboratories. The laboratories should submit the result reports before the time limit expires. If the laboratory reports were the same with the standard results, the laboratories will receive satisfactory remark. If laboratory reports were not the same with the standard results, the laboratories will receive unsatisfactory remark. If a laboratory did not submit report, the laboratory will also receive unsatisfactory result. Results Eight laboratories out of 10 (80%) enrolled laboratories reported satisfactory experiment results, and two laboratories (20%) presented unsatisfactory results. Conclusions The whole detection level of laboratories in Mod1 & Idh1 is relatively high in the laboratory animals monitoring laboratories in China. It can reflect the detection level of laboratories to conduct the laboratory capacity evaluation.