Animal Testing Alternatives : Home

USDA policy #12 is clear in its requirement that ALL potentially painful and/or distressful procedures performed on the laboratory animals must have an alternatives search. This may mean that your protocol more than likely requires more than one alternative search. PIs should be aware that the IACUC and federal regulations require that protocols do not unnecessarily duplicate previous research and that may require the PI to do a literature search; however, this does not mandate a narrative and assurance of compliance with this regulation is documented in Section 19 of the Animal Care and Use Protocol Application. This is NOT the same as the search for alternatives requirement which requires a narrative to explain each potentially painful and/or distressful procedure being performed in the protocol.

Options

• Do your own literature search - These handouts provide tips to investigators who prefer to do their own literature searches.
  • Searching for Alternatives to Painful Procedures used on Laboratory Animals (National Institutes of Health

• Use "Saved Search"  - This strategy assists investigators using Ovid MEDLINE® for their alternatives search. “Saved Search for Animal Testing Alternatives in Medline” provides detailed information about using this stored strategy.

• Consult a librarian - Investigators doing their own literature search can consult with a librarian to develop relevant search strategies for their specific protocol. Strategies are designed to prevent duplication of research and to address alternatives. 

• Ask a Librarian to do your search - A librarian can do the literature search for you! The investigator first meets with a librarian to discuss his/her protocol subject. The librarian then designs search strategies to prevent duplication of research and to address alternatives, and performs the search.

Note: It is strongly recommended that investigators keep copies of their search strategies as documentation.