Lab Animal Welfare Flashcards
What are important principles of humane experimental technique?
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
Replacement
“Methods that avoid or replace the use of protected animals in an experiment
where otherwise they would have been used”
Examples of replacement
Examples: • use of cell cultures • abattoir material • human subjects that give consent • computer models • invertebrates
Limitations to replacement
- Limited ability to replicate complex living systems e.g. animal behaviour, immune system and other complex physiology
- Unethical to experiment on humans where this may involve harm
Reduction
Methods that minimise animal use
- use comparable levels of information obtained from fewer animals
- obtain more info from the same number of animals
Examples of reduction
Examples: • improved experimental design and analysis • better measurements of response • sharing animals / tissues with others • longitudinal studies in same animals
Limitations to reduction
BUT sufficient animals must be used to draw robust conclusions, or animal use is wasted
Statistical power calculations used to assess suitable sample size
- based on estimated size of effect expected and variance among subjects
Refinement
Improvements to scientific procedures or to animal husbandry that improve
animal welfare and/or minimise harm when animal must be used
Examples of refinement
Examples: • use of analgesics • appropriate animal handling • environmental enrichment • training animals to cooperate with procedures such as blood sampling • humane endpoints
Key factor of refinement:
All licensed research using vertebrates must address the 3Rs to minimise
unnecessary suffering
What bodies regulate lab animal welfare?
- ASPA: animals scientific procedures Act 1986
2. EU Directive
ASPA and EU Directive
- 2 laws that regulate the use of lab animals in the UK
- EU law is v similar to ASPA
- • Protects all vertebrates (excluding humans) & cephalopods used in scientific research
and testing
• All procedures likely to cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm
soooo:
• Any procedure that breaks the skin (e.g. insertion of needle)
• Threshold for mental distress much less clear (e.g. social stress, predator)
What does the ASPA and EU Directive legislations exclude?
Excludes
Ø humane killing using a method listed under ASPA Schedule 1 suitable for the
particular species (but personnel must be trained in method)
Ø standard husbandry procedures that cause only momentary pain e.g. ID marking
Ø procedures carried out for veterinary treatment with no scientific purpose
How are animal experiences classified?
• Non-recovery (no suffering experienced e.g. under terminal anaesthesia)
• Mild (short lasting, little adverse effects expected or no significant impairment)
• Moderate (short-term moderate e.g. surgical procedure or long-lasting mild)
• Severe (severe impairment e.g. death may be the endpoint, or long-lasting
moderate pain, suffering or distress)
How are animal experiments regulated?
- Animal scientific procedure act dictates everything
- Overseen by home office animals inspectorate (vets and medics) UK
- look at each institution: must have 3 licenses each institution must have for animal research:
- establishment lisence = provide right conditions for animals
b) animal welfare and ethical review body: veterinary surgeon, names animal care and welfare officers
c) training officer - everyone up to date with best way
d) Scientists
e) Lay representative - Project lisence: define precise procedures and justification. 3 Rs
- Personal license = individuals have had appropriate training
