ALAT Ethics in Animal Research 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law is the primary legislation governing the use of animals in research in the United States?
- Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (Correct answer)
- Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- Laboratory Animal Welfare Standards Act (LAWSA)
- National Research Animal Protection Act (NRAPA)
Correct 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.
Question 2: An IACUC inspection reveals that an animal room has inadequate ventilation causing distress to the animals. What is the IACUC's appropriate first action?
- Immediately suspend all research in that room until corrected (Correct answer)
- File a report with USDA and wait for their response
- Inform the PI and allow 30 days for voluntary correction
- Document the finding and revisit at the next scheduled inspection
Correct 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.
Question 3: The concept of 'Replacement' in the 3Rs framework refers to which practice?
- Using non-animal methods or lower-sentience species instead of traditional animal models (Correct answer)
- Switching to a different animal species that is easier to care for
- Replacing sick animals with healthy ones during a study
- Substituting one analgesic drug for another in a pain management protocol
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the ethical principle of 'Refinement'?
- Switching from manual blood collection to a less invasive automated system that reduces animal stress (Correct answer)
- Reducing the total number of mice in a study from 100 to 60 through better statistical design
- Using human cell lines instead of rodents for initial drug toxicity screening
- Training new technicians on proper handling techniques to improve efficiency
Correct 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.
Question 5: A researcher asks an animal care technician to perform a procedure not listed in the approved IACUC protocol. What should the technician do?
- Decline to perform the procedure and inform the researcher it requires IACUC approval (Correct answer)
- Perform the procedure if the researcher asserts it is scientifically necessary
- Perform the procedure only if a veterinarian is present
- Check with the facility manager and proceed if they approve
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the NRC?
- To provide performance-based standards and guidelines for humane animal care and use in research (Correct answer)
- To establish legally binding regulations that supersede the Animal Welfare Act
- To list all approved research procedures for each species
- To set minimum cage size requirements as the only standard institutions must meet
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which species are covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations?
- Warm-blooded animals used in research, excluding birds, rats, and mice bred for research (Correct answer)
- All vertebrate animals including fish and reptiles
- Only cats, dogs, and non-human primates
- All animals including invertebrates such as insects and worms
Correct 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.
ALAT Ethics in Animal Research 4
Which federal law is the primary legislation governing the use of animals in research in the United States?