Practicing the “3 Rs”–Considerations for Investigators
The Animal Welfare Act legislatively mandates that IACUCs
ensure that PIs have considered the use of “animal
alternatives”. The concept of alternatives is embodied
in what has come to be referred to as the “3
Rs”–Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.
- Replacement –Substitution of other
systems for animal use.
PIs might consider the following
questions:
Can the hypothesis be tested in a protocol that
uses cells, tissue, or organ culture?
Might a chemical system
or computer simulation provide a means for testing the
hypothesis?
- Reduction –Decreasing the number
of animals needed to yield statistically accurate and reliable
outcomes.
PIs might consider these questions:
What is the minimum
treatment difference necessary to demonstrate a biologically
significant result?
What might be a reasonable expectation for the
range of variability in my animal subjects?
These and related
questions help focus the PI’s thinking
on experimental designs aimed at utilizing the most appropriate
number of animals. The IACUC encourages PIs to consult with
a statistician for help in discerning the appropriate animal
sample size. The PI’s protocol must provide the IACUC
with a clear and logical statement of the process s/he used
in specifying the specific number of animals to be used in
their protocol.
- Refinement –Efforts used
to eliminate or minimize animal pain or distress.
Some questions
the PIs might consider:
May appropriate analgesics and/or
anesthetic agents be used without confounding the experiment?
Might it be possible to choose an “end-point” other
than the death of the animal in order to minimize pain and
distress?
Might the current sampling or surgical technique(s)
be modified or replaced in order to minimize pain and distress?
The IACUC encourages PIs to consult with a veterinarian for
help in discerning possible refinements.
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