It is the stated aim of all medical researchers to use as few animals and as
responsibly as possible. Indeed, in the last 30 years, the annual number of
animals used has halved and the search for validated alternatives continues.
Ultimately it would be ideal if the use of animals could be totally replaced
by non-clinical methods.
Unfortunately few of these currently exist and where they do they are often
not yet fully accepted by the world's regulatory authorities. This means that
the use of animals will continue for some time to come.
However, the search for alternatives continues and is guided by the principle
of the 3 R's. This stands for:
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
Replacement - In recent years there have been advances in
non-animal techniques. These include computer modelling, cell cultures and in
vitro (literally in glass - test tube) techniques. In some cases these
techniques, can replace some of the existing animal tests but it will be many
years before all animal tests will be made redundant by non-animal techniques.
Reduction - Quite simply this means that fewer animals are
being used in many areas of medical research. Scientists are now able to be
more confident in the results that they have achieved. This confidence means
that fewer animals are required to be sure that the results are valid.
Refinement - This concerns the manner in which the animals
are treated. This covers areas such as animal housing and veterinary care. The
principle of Refinement ensures that if an animal is involved in scientific
research, it is treated with care and respect and suffers as little as possible.
It is a common misconception that animals are used because they offer a 'cheap
alternative' to non-animal techniques. The reverse is in fact true.
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