Definitions:

• Alternatives: an aspect of replacement, reduction and/or refinement applied to minimize animal pain and distress, consistent with research goals.
• Refinement: ways to reduce animal pain and/or distress within the study.
• Reduction: ways to reduce the number of animals that are used for the study.
• Replacement: ways to remove animals from the research to achieve scientific goals.
• Literature Search: specific requirement of USDA/APHIS Policy #12. Implied requirement of the U.S. Government Principles, OLAW and The Guide.
• Can be used in conjunction with expert consultations, workshops, and other sources to demonstrate research beyond the investigator’s laboratory, for additional and comparative information prior to starting work with animals.
• Key words: words that are specific to the study. They describe both the animals and aspects of the research that may cause pain or distress.
• Databases: electronic publication collections. There are many that cover specific subject areas. It’s unlikely that one database will have all alternatives related to a study.