Three Rs (animal research)

This article is about guiding principles in animal research. For other uses, see Three Rs (disambiguation).

A Wistar laboratory rat

The Three Rs (3Rs) are guiding principles for more ethical use of animals in product testing and scientific research. They were first described by W. M. S. Russell and R. L. Burch in 1959.[1] The 3Rs are:

  1. Replacement: methods which avoid the use of animals in research
  2. Reduction: use of methods that enable researchers to minimise the number of animals necessary to obtain reliable and useful information.
  3. Refinement: use of methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm and improve welfare for the animals used.

The 3Rs have a broader scope than simply encouraging alternatives to animal testing, but aim to improve animal welfare and scientific quality where the use of animals cannot be avoided. In many countries, these 3Rs are now explicit in legislation governing animal use. It is usual to capitalise the first letter of each of the three 'R' principles (i.e. 'Replacement' rather than 'replacement') to avoid ambiguity and clarify reference to the 3Rs principles.

  1. ^ Russell, W.M.S. and Burch, R.L., (1959). The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, Methuen, London. ISBN 0900767782 [1] A digital version of the Principles may be accessed for free on the website of Johns Hopkins University's Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT).