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Reduction Alternatives
Reduction
 Reduction
alternatives refers to any strategy that will result in fewer animals being used to obtain sufficient
data to answer the research question, or in maximizing the information obtained per animal and thus potentially
limiting or avoiding the subsequent use of additional animals, without compromising animal welfare.
Investigators and animal care committee members will likely be familiar with the tension that exists between
Reduction alternatives and Refinement alternatives, as the goal of reducing numbers of animals can conflict
with the goal of refining practices to meet the welfare needs of individual animals. In many cases, reduction
and refinement goals must be balanced on a case-by-case basis. For example, the strategy of re-using experimental
animals for low or non-invasive procedures may be acceptable, provided they are housed and cared for appropriately,
while re-use of animals that have undergone highly invasive and painful procedures is not acceptable under
any conditions.
Reduction of animal numbers can occur through a reduction in both the number of animal experiments conducted and
through a reduction in the numbers of animals used per experiment. Ways to implement reduction include improving
experimental design, using statistical methods to select sample sizes (i.e. power analysis), using new
technologies, and adopting reduction-oriented animal use strategies into research planning.
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Replication versus duplication
When considering whether the repetition of experiments (either for research or testing purposes) should take
place, it is important to distinguish between duplication and replication.
- Duplication refers to the unnecessary repetition of animal experiments or tests without sufficient
scientific justification. In principle, duplication is unacceptable. It occurs primarily when the
investigator either does not know that another investigator has already carried out the experiment
or test in question, or when the investigator does know but is unable to attain reasonable access
to the information (for example, if the information is held as proprietary).
- Replication refers to the repetition of experiments or tests when this is scientifically justified
as a necessary step in scientific progress. For example, the scientific method demands that research
findings be corroborated by the same and other research groups in order to establish the validity of
the results.
Use of animals for teaching purposes necessarily requires repetition (i.e. to demonstrate principles which
are already well-known or to learn manual skills and techniques). However, the repetitive use of animals
in this manner must be based on sound ethical justification and proven educational objectives.
(This section has been adapted from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics' Ethics of Research Involving
Animals, and CCAC guidelines).
For more information on Reduction alternatives, the following resource may be useful:
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