Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animal Alternatives (IACUC Searches): Reduction and Refinement Concepts

Conducting literature searches required by the Animal Welfare Act and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Identifying ways to reduce pain or distress in laboratory animals. Support for UW IACUC protocols

Steps for Focusing on Refinement and Reduction Concepts

1. Search for articles describing what you are studying in your protocol.

2. Search for articles discussing improved models and/or potential alternatives to painful or distressful procedures.

3. Combine the two searches with AND.

Search Example

Search for humane treatment of rats being restrained for blood draws.

Search #1 concepts: rats and blood draws.

(rat OR rats OR rattus) AND ("blood draw" OR "blood collection" OR "blood sampling" OR "blood sample" OR "blood specimen")

Search #2 concepts: restraint procedures or animal distress

restrain* OR immobiliz* OR immobilis* OR restrict* OR distress* OR handling OR humane

Combine the two searches using AND.

(rat OR rats OR rattus) AND ("blood draw" OR "blood collection" OR "blood sampling" OR "blood sample" OR "blood specimen") AND (restrain* OR immobiliz* OR immobilis* OR restrict* OR distress* OR handling OR humane)

Notes:

✽In PubMed, go to the Advanced search page to combine the two searches.

✽You can also type #1 AND #2 to combine search #1 AND search #2.

Potential Search Terms for Refinement and Reduction Concepts

animal model or experimental design

sample size or statistical design

assay or technique or method or procedure

non-invasive or noninvasive

imaging or MRI or tomography or ultrasound

telemetry or monitoring device

biomarker or biological marker

pain, painful

analgesic, analgesia

anesthetic, anaesthetic

distress, suffering

sedative

well-being or welfare

humane treatment or humane endpoint

housing, caging, cages, facility

environmental enrichment, animal training, positive reinforcement

restrain, immobilize