Principles
for Use of Animals
Personnel
Experiments involving live, vertebrate animals and the procurement
of tissues from living animals for research must be performed
by, or under the immediate supervision of a qualified biological,
behavioral, or medical scientist.
The housing, care and feeding of all experimental animals
must be supervised by a qualified veterinarian, technically
trained animal care technician or other scientist competent
in such matter.
Research
The research should be as such as to yield fruitful results
for the good of society and not random or unnecessary in nature.
The experiment should be based on the knowledge of the disease
or problem under the study and so designed that the anticipated
results will justify its performance.
Statistical analysis, mathematical models, or in vitro biological
systems should be used when appropriate to complement animal
experiments and to reduce numbers of animals used.
The experiment should be conducted so as to avoid all unnecessary
suffering and injury to the animals.
The scientist in charge of the experiment must be prepared
to terminate it whenever s/he believes that its continuation
may result in unnecessary injury or suffering to the animals.
If the experiment or procedure is likely to cause greater
discomfort than that attending anesthetization, the animals
must first be rendered incapable of perceiving pain and be maintained
in that condition until the experiment or procedure is ended.
The only exception to this guideline should be in those cases
where the anesthetization would defeat the purpose of the experiment
and data cannot be obtained by any other humane procedure. Such
procedures must be carefully supervised by the principal investigator
or other qualified senior scientist.
Post-experimental care of animals must be such as to minimize
discomfort and the consequences of any disability resulting
from the experiment, in accordance with acceptable practices
in veterinary medicine.
If it is necessary to kill an experimental animal, this must
be accomplished in a humane manner, i.e., in such way as to
insure immediate death in accordance with procedures approved
by an institutional committee. No animal shall be discarded
until death is certain (c.f. IV, H, 2).
Facilities
Standards for the instruction and use of housing, service
and surgical facilities should meet those described in the publication,
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 1996 ,
or otherwise required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
regulations established under the terms of the Laboratory Animal
Welfare Act (P.L. 89-544) as amended 1970 and 1976 (P.L. 91-579
and P.L. 94-279) or future subsequent amendments.
Transportation
Transportation of animals must be in accord with applicable
standards and regulations, especially those intended to reduce
discomfort, stress to the animals, or spread of disease. All
animals being received for use as experimental subjects and
having arrived at the terminal of a common carrier must be promptly
picked up and delivered, uncrated and place in acceptable permanent
facilities.
