ANIMAL WELFARE - Animal Research

Question 1

What is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA)?

Answer 1

The ASPA regulates procedures carried out on ‘protected animals’ for scientific or educational purposes which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm

Question 2

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), when is protection implemented in cephalopods?

Answer 2

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), cephalopods are protected as soon as they hatch

Question 3

What is a ‘protected animal’?

Answer 3

A ‘protected animal’ is any living vertebrate, other than man, and cephalopod

Question 4

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), when is protection implemented in mammals, birds and reptiles?

Answer 4

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), mammals, birds and reptiles are protected from 2/3 in gestation or incubation

Question 5

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), when is protection implemented in fish?

Answer 5

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), fish are protected when they begin free feeding

Question 6

What is the responsibility of the ‘named veterinary surgeon’?

Answer 6

Advising on welfare, health and treatment of the animals

Question 7

What is a ‘regulated procedure’?

Answer 7

A ‘regulated procedure’ is an procedure which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm

Question 8

What is the threshold of pain for a regulated procedure in scientific research?

Answer 8

Any procedure that may cause a equivalent to or a higher level of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm than introducing a needle into the skin according to good veterinary practice

Question 9

Give five examples of regulated procedures

Answer 9

Metabolic cage
Anaesthesia
Surgery
Change in diet
Breeding genetically altered animals

Question 10

Give three examples of non-regulated procedures

Answer 10

Recognised veterinary practice
Recognised animal husbandry practice
Observational studies

Question 11

What are the three licenses that are required for an establishment to carry out regulated procedures?

Answer 11

Home office establishment license
Project license
Personal license

Question 12

Who approves animal research projects and distributes the appropriate licences?

Answer 12

Home Office

Question 13

What is a humane endpoint?

Answer 13

The clear, predictable and irreversible criteria that allows for early termination of a scientific procedure before an animal experiences harm that is not authorised or scientifically justified

Question 14

What are the three Rs?

Answer 14

Reduction
Replacement
Refinement

Question 15

What is reduction in animal research?

Answer 15

Reduction involves methods that help obtain comparable levels of information from the use of fewer animals

Question 16

What is replacement in animal research?

Answer 16

Replacement alternatives refer to methods which avoid or replace the use of sentient animals

Question 17

What is refinement in animal research?

Answer 17

Refinement refers to methods that minimise the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that may be experienced by research animals, and which improve their welfare

Question 18

What is the recommended holding temperature for rodents in scientific research?

Answer 18

19 - 23°C

Question 19

What is the recommended relative humidity for rodents in scientific research?

Answer 19

55% ± 10%