Ethics in Animal Research Flashcards
7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics in Animal Research flashcards as text
Which federal law is the primary legislation governing the use of animals in research in the United States?
Answer: Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA), enacted in 1966 and amended several times, is the primary federal law regulating the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, and transport.
An IACUC inspection reveals that an animal room has inadequate ventilation causing distress to the animals. What is the IACUC's appropriate first action?
Answer: Immediately suspend all research in that room until corrected
When an IACUC identifies a condition causing animal distress, the committee has authority and responsibility to immediately suspend activities until the issue is corrected.
The concept of 'Replacement' in the 3Rs framework refers to which practice?
Answer: Using non-animal methods or lower-sentience species instead of traditional animal models
Replacement means using methods that avoid or replace the use of animals, such as cell cultures, computer models, or substituting less sentient organisms.
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the ethical principle of 'Refinement'?
Answer: Switching from manual blood collection to a less invasive automated system that reduces animal stress
Refinement involves modifying procedures to minimize pain and distress; switching to a less invasive collection method directly reduces animal suffering.
A researcher asks an animal care technician to perform a procedure not listed in the approved IACUC protocol. What should the technician do?
Answer: Decline to perform the procedure and inform the researcher it requires IACUC approval
All animal procedures must be covered by an approved IACUC protocol; technicians should not perform unapproved procedures regardless of who requests them.
What is the primary purpose of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the NRC?
Answer: To provide performance-based standards and guidelines for humane animal care and use in research
The Guide provides performance-based standards—focusing on outcomes rather than prescriptive rules—to ensure humane care and use of laboratory animals.
Which species are covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations?
Answer: Warm-blooded animals used in research, excluding birds, rats, and mice bred for research
The AWA covers warm-blooded animals in research but specifically excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus that are bred for research purposes.