ALAT Ethics in Animal Research 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An animal technician notices a colleague performing euthanasia in a manner that appears inconsistent with AVMA guidelines. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Report the concern to a supervisor or the attending veterinarian immediately (Correct answer)
- Correct the colleague on the spot and demonstrate the proper method
- Document the incident personally and confront the colleague privately later
- Assume the colleague knows best and take no action
Correct answer: Report the concern to a supervisor or the attending veterinarian immediately
Concerns about animal welfare and improper procedures should be reported to supervisory or veterinary staff who have authority to investigate and correct the situation.
Question 2: Occupational health and safety programs in animal research facilities are ethically required primarily to protect which groups?
- Both personnel working with animals and the animals themselves from zoonotic disease transmission (Correct answer)
- Only the research animals from introduction of human pathogens
- Only the personnel from allergens and physical hazards
- Only the institution from liability related to worker injury
Correct answer: Both personnel working with animals and the animals themselves from zoonotic disease transmission
Occupational health programs protect personnel from zoonoses, allergens, and other hazards, while also protecting animals from human pathogens that could compromise research or animal health.
Question 3: What does 'unnecessary duplication' mean in the context of ethical animal research, and how should it be avoided?
- Repeating experiments that have already produced valid results without scientific justification, avoided by thorough literature review (Correct answer)
- Using duplicate animal groups in a study, avoided by reducing group sizes
- Ordering extra animals as backups, avoided by accurate census planning
- Conducting the same assay twice on each sample, avoided by using automated equipment
Correct answer: Repeating experiments that have already produced valid results without scientific justification, avoided by thorough literature review
Unnecessary duplication means repeating studies without added scientific value, and a thorough literature search before protocol submission is the primary way to avoid it.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the role of the Institutional Official (IO) in an animal research program?
- The individual who signs the Animal Welfare Assurance and bears institutional responsibility for compliance (Correct answer)
- The veterinarian responsible for daily medical oversight of all research animals
- The chairperson of the IACUC who votes on protocol approvals
- The administrator who manages the animal facility budget and staffing
Correct answer: The individual who signs the Animal Welfare Assurance and bears institutional responsibility for compliance
The Institutional Official is a senior administrator who signs the PHS Assurance, committing the institution to compliance with federal regulations and policies.
Question 5: A study requires blood samples from mice every week for 12 weeks. To apply the principle of Reduction, a technician should suggest:
- Collecting multiple analytes from each blood sample to maximize data obtained per animal (Correct answer)
- Increasing the number of animals per group to improve statistical power
- Collecting blood more frequently to shorten the overall study duration
- Using separate cohorts of animals for each weekly time point
Correct answer: Collecting multiple analytes from each blood sample to maximize data obtained per animal
Multiplexing—measuring multiple analytes from one sample—extracts more scientific value per animal and reduces the total number of animals needed.
Question 6: Under the PHS Policy, which category of animal use requires full IACUC committee review rather than designated member review?
- Studies involving more than momentary or slight pain or distress that is not relieved by anesthetics, analgesics, or tranquilizers (Correct answer)
- Any study using mice or rats bred for research
- Studies that use fewer than 10 animals total
- Observational studies with no physical intervention
Correct answer: Studies involving more than momentary or slight pain or distress that is not relieved by anesthetics, analgesics, or tranquilizers
Protocols involving pain or distress not alleviated by pain-relieving agents (USDA Category E equivalent) require full committee review due to their significant welfare implications.
Question 7: Which statement about the ethical use of pain and distress assessment tools in research animals is most accurate?
- Species-specific behavioral and physiological indicators should be used because animals cannot verbally communicate pain (Correct answer)
- Pain is assessed the same way across all species since pain pathways are evolutionarily conserved
- Observable pain behaviors are sufficient alone; physiological markers are only needed for regulatory reports
- Pain assessment is the sole responsibility of the principal investigator, not animal care staff
Correct answer: Species-specific behavioral and physiological indicators should be used because animals cannot verbally communicate pain
Because animals cannot self-report pain, technicians must use species-specific grimace scales, behavioral changes, and physiological parameters to assess distress accurately.
ALAT Ethics in Animal Research 5
An animal technician notices a colleague performing euthanasia in a manner that appears inconsistent with AVMA guidelines.
What is the most ethical course of action?