Refinement refers to keeping any pain, sufferingor other harm which may be caused as low aspossible for each and every animal used in thework. This means that every aspect of the workmust be reviewed carefully and great care takento minimise any noxious effects on the animals.

The important question is:“How can the harm to the animal of each study beminimised?”

This can be done in several ways:For example, studies can involve:

• Non-invasive behavioural observations ofconscious animals; non-invasive methods such asultrasound or X-rayexaminations or otherimaging techniques inconscious animals;

• Limiting theinvasiveness by takingblood samples using aneedle the minimumnumber of timesrequired to achieve thedesired goals;

• Anaesthetics, pain-killers (analgesics), sedativesand/or tranquillisers are used to relieve anxiety,fear, pain or distress in conscious animals;

Refinement

Also animals are handled gentlythroughout and, where possible,are given extra attention,including food treats andstroking, to enhancethier well-being.

Reduction means keeping the number ofanimals used to the minimum necessary toachieve the purposes of the work. Thisincludes avoiding using unnecessarily large orsmall numbers of animals.

ReductionThe important question is:“How can the number of animals used bereduced to the minimum needed to achievethe aim(s) of the work?”

This can be done in several ways:• If related but different work has been donebefore, it can be used to assess the number ofanimals that will need to be studied toproduce a definite result.

• Science-based statisticians can advise on theminimum numbers required.

• Tissues from animals killed in abattoirs can alsobe retrieved immediately after death and usedfor research, teaching or testing, therebyavoiding the need to use extra animals.

ReplacementReplacement means that animals should not beused at all if the same aim can be achieved inother ways. The word "animal" refers to "higherorder" animals that are capable of suffering orfeeling pain.

The first question scientists must askthemselves is:

"Do I need to use animals at all?"

Then there are three important questions:1) What alternatives can be used instead ofanimals?

2) When is it appropriate to use alternatives?3) When is it not appropriate to usealternatives?

What alternatives are available?• Computermodels

• Charts,diagrams, manikinsand models

• Mathematicaland statisticalmodels

• Intactinvertebrates andlower ordervertebrates.

• Tissue cultureusing cells

• Videos ofprocedures forteaching

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