The Three R’s
The 3 R’s stand for Principles of Reduction, Refinement and Replacement and are the guiding principles of animal research. Adherence to these principles encourages the humane use of animals in research and testing. The intent of the 3R’s is to ensure that when animals are used in researches, as few as possible are used, and animals experience minimal pain or distress. When possible, replacing animals with alternatives (that can provide the same research outcome) should be considered.
The Guidelines on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes provides the following definitions for the 3 R’s.
Principle of Reduction: This principle advocates for reduction in the number of animals used and provides the following guidelines
• The number of animals used must be the minimum number required to obtain scientifically valid results.
• The principle of reducing the number of animals used should not be implemented at the expense of greater suffering of individual animals.
• Scientific activities involving the use of animals must not be repeated or duplicated unnecessarily.
Principle of Refinement: This principle asks for refinement of projects and techniques used to minimize the impact on animals. Some of the key guidelines are listed below:
The following to be considered in the selection of animals:
• Animals chosen must be of an appropriate species and quality for the scientific activities taking into account their biological characteristics, including behavior, genetic constitution and nutritional, microbiological and general health status.
• Wildlife should be taken from natural habitats only if animals bred in captivity are not available or are unsuitable for the specific project or experiment concerned.
The following to be done to minimize impact on animals:
• Projects must be designed to avoid pain or distress to animals. If this is not possible, pain or distress must be minimized.
• Unless the contrary is established, it must be assumed that procedures that will cause pain or distress in human beings will cause pain or distress in animals.
• Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or minimal pain or distress should be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia in accordance with accepted veterinary practice.
• Surgical or other painful procedures should not be performed on animals paralyzed by chemical agents, unless the animals have undergone appropriate surgical procedure which eliminates sensory awareness. If such agents are used, continuous or frequent intermittent monitoring of paralyzed animals is essential to ensure that the depth of anesthesia is adequate to prevent pain or distress.
• At the end of, or, when appropriate, during the procedures, animals that would otherwise suffer severe or chronic pain or distress, that cannot be relieved promptly, must be killed humanely.
An animal which develops signs of pain or distress of a kind and degree not predicted in the proposal must have the pain or distress alleviated promptly. Alleviation of such pain or distress must take precedence over finishing the project. If severe pain or distress cannot be alleviated promptly, the animal must be killed humanely.
• If it is not possible to use anesthetics or analgesics in any Project (or part of a Project), the end-point of the Project must be as early as possible to avoid or minimize pain or distress to the animals.
• Death as an end-point must be avoided if at all possible. If Death as end-point must be used, the Investigator must ensure that the animal’s distress or pain is minimized and use appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia to relieve the animal’s distress or pain.
• Projects involving the use of animals must be as brief as possible.
• The transportation, housing, feeding, handling of animals should meet species specific needs; including behavioral and biological needs.
Principle of Replacement: This principle advocates the replacement of animal experimentation with alternative methods.
• Alternative methods, such as mathematical models, computer simulation and in vitro biological systems, which replace or complement the use of animals must be considered before embarking on any Project involving use of animals and the alternative methods used wherever appropriate.
Figure 836 Protocol Document – The Three R’s - Principles
Table 436 Protocol Document, The Three R’s, Principles
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Field |
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Principle of Reduction |
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Principle of Refinement |
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Principle of Replacement |
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