Animal Alternatives  Tags: iacuc animal_alternatives  

A thorough literature search is important before the start of any new research project in order to prevent duplication of work already performed and to establish priority. An effective literature search strategy incorporates keywords and concepts that describe the project and/or area of study. The original project literature search can serve as the foundation for an animal alternatives search by adding keywords used in the scope of the 3R's (refine, reduce, replace).

Problems may arise in choosing appropriate keywords to develop an effective search strategy that yields the most pertinent information. The databases listed in this guide, with the exception of BIOSIS, all contain controlled vocabulary terms for locating alternative animal use procedures. When the controlled terms are employed to create a subset of the database, searching for specific animals, procedures, chemicals, etc within that subset will narrow the subject and hopefully, improve relevancy of the search results

Appropriate search terms or keywords include animal testing alternatives, alternatives, tissue culture, cell culture, simulation, in vitro, and model. Additional keywords can be found on the UC Center for Animal Alternatives web page. These terms are useful, but are not the only terminology possible.

The US Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Information Center (USDA/AWIC) provides an excellent worksheet for developing search strategies that help determine if alternatives exist and whether the protocol unnecessarily duplicates previous research.