Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Using 100 mice in a research study instead of 150 is an example of which of the following principles?

1. Refinement

2. Replacement

3. Reduction

4. Responsibility

The correct answer is: Reduction

Using 100 mice instead of 150 exemplifies the principle of Reduction, which is aimed at minimizing the number of animals used in research without compromising the validity of the results. This approach encourages researchers to use statistical methods, optimize study designs, and improve breeding practices to achieve reliable data while ensuring that they use the least number of animals necessary. By limiting the number of subjects to 100, researchers can still gather meaningful results, thus adhering to ethical standards in animal research. The other principles, while equally important in the context of animal research ethics, focus on different aspects. Refinement refers to strategies that minimize pain and distress for the animals involved. Replacement involves finding alternative methods to using animals altogether, such as in vitro studies or computational models. Responsibility pertains to the overall ethical conduct and oversight in the treatment of animal subjects. Each principle plays a crucial role in humane research practices, but in this scenario, it is Reduction that specifically addresses the choice of using a smaller number of mice.