Librarian assistance with alternatives searches, required by the USDA and animal use and care protocols

Mary W. Wood, Reference Librarian
mwwood@ucdavis.edu
530-754-9122
UCDavis Center for Animal Alternatives Information
Carlson Health Sciences Library
University of California, Davis

Resources

USDA Policies #11 and #12
make clear that alternatives searches are required for all animal use protocols potentially causing pain or distress to animal subjects. Details of the search must include keywords used, years covered, and databases searched. All three Rs must be addressed: replacement, reduction and refinement.

The UCDavis Center for Animal Alternatives Information
can help with any alternatives searches, including search strategy, database selection, and general guidance. Although the alternatives search is officially for protocols that cause more than slight or momentary pain, even studies involving non-painful procedures can benefit from the information in revealing useful refinements for husbandry and animal handling techniques.

Help Request
mwwood@ucdavis.edu
530-754-9122
530-752-4718 fax
The Library's resources provide information and links on how to succcessfully search for alternatives, including the terminology, search stategy, and databases.

UCDAVIS INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE

IACUC Site
Report Care or Concern
Veterinary Care
Other Sites and Resources

 

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Humane Animal Care and Use : Policies and Procedures  USDA, Research, Education & Economics, ARS, CSREES, ERS, NASS
Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC)
NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals
NIH: Office of Animal Care and Use  (OACU)
NIH: Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare  (OLAW)
Guidelines to promote the wellbeing of animals used for scientific purposes: The assessment and alleviation of pain and distress in research animals National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia

 

ORGANIZATIONS
The following groups hold regular conferences for institutions and their IACUCs.
Information Resources for Animal Welfare & Alternatives: Organizations

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC)
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM)
Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research (PRIM&R)
Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW)

TRAINING

Utrecht University, Veterinary Medicine

Institute for Laboratory Animal Management (ILAM)

Lab Animal Welfare Training Exchange (LAWTE)

Laboratory Animal Training Association (LATA)

Educational Alternatives Databases
AVAR Alt Ed and NORINA

Specialized Issues Databases supported by AltWeb
Pain • Endpoints

Additional Information and Resources
Comprehensive list  of suggested databases and websites (UCCAA)
Comprehensive searches, by species examples  (UCCAA)
AALAS Learning Library: Web Courses and Exams

Alternatives Search Guidelines (Complying with USDA Policies 11 and 12)
see also Alternatives Worksheet

Literature Search
A minimum of two database searches that reflects a serious effort to address the ‘3Rs’ (refinement, replacement, reduction) is required by federal law. It is also important to show that the proposed use of animals is not unnecessarily duplicative of other studies previously performed. 
The 3Rs are:

• Refinement of technique to reduce or eliminate unnecessary pain and distress an animal may experience.
• Reduction, which refers to an effort to reduce the number of animals used overall within the study. 
• Replacement refers to replacing animals with non-animal alternatives, non-mammalian or invertebrate species.  Alternatives could include in vitro methods that utilize organ, tissue and cell culture, computer simulation models, microorganisms, plants, or chemical techniques.

Result of Search for Alternatives
Indicate the results of this search for alternatives, and whether you were able to identify alternatives that are included in the studies proposed.  If no alternatives have been found, and if no prior studies have been performed that indicate duplication, then state this within the framework of the objectives of the study.   It is important to state the unique aspects of your study in relation to the published literature. Please also include any procedures you have performed that indicate your efforts to decrease the use of animals. This could include in vitro studies or those performed with invertebrate or non-mammalian species.  This helps document your efforts toward employing the concepts of the 3Rs.