Read Full Report
Date: June 2, 2010
Contacts: Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations Officer
Alison Burnette, Media Relations Assistant
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail <news@nas.edu>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Updated Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Released
The guide takes into consideration the federal Animal Welfare Act and endorses the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. It is also a nationally and internationally accepted primary reference on animal care and use and the basis for accreditation by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International.
The committee that updated the guide based its recommendations on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices consistent with high-quality humane animal care and use. Updates to the guide include:
· an endorsement of "the three Rs" -- replacement, refinement, and reduction -- as principles to employ when using animals in research and designing humane animal research studies
· a holistic approach to institutional Animal Care and Use Programs, defining them as the sum of the activities that directly impact the well-being of laboratory animals
· a new section on care and use of aquatic species
· a new section on creating a disaster and emergency plan that identifies necessary steps for use in catastrophic events
· expanded sections on how to properly transport animals
· a definition of animal biosecurity -- measures taken to prevent and control unwanted diseases -- and proper practices
· new material on veterinary clinical care and management
· new and updated information on physical plant-related topics, such as special design facilities and hazardous agent containment
In addition, the guide emphasizes the need to house all social animals, particularly monkeys, in compatible pairs or larger groups of compatible animals. The committee, which minimally changed space recommendations, noted that further study of space and housing needs -- as well as the best methods for providing enrichment, exercise, and human contact for laboratory animals -- is required.
A public briefing with committee members to discuss the guide's recommendations will be held at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 8, at the Washington Plaza Hotel,
The report was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health; Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International; Office of Research Integrity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Abbott Fund; Pfizer; American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners; American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; and Association of Primate Veterinarians.
The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering,
Copies of Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals are available from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu. Reporters may obtain a copy from the Office of News and Public Information (contacts listed above).
[ This news release and report are available at http://national-academies.org ]
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Janet C. Garber (chair)
Consultant
Garber Consulting
Associate Professor and Associate Director of Research
Department of Emergency Medicine
Research Manager
Director of Animal Health
National Aquarium
President
BioResources Inc.
Dennis F. Kohn
Professor Emeritus of Clinical Comparative Pathology
Director
Associate Professor
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Fred W. Quimby
Associate Vice President
Associate Professor, and
Program Leader of Laboratory Animal Science,
Department of Pathobiology
Associate Professor
Department of Pathobiology
Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethology
STAFF
Lida Anestidou
Study Director