title: Reduction in animal use in the production and testing of biologicals.
abstract: In the control of biologicals, animals are used largely to measure the concentration of a specific substance, rather than as a "model" of humans, so there is considerable scope for the development of replacement alternatives. When animals continue to be be used, a critical analysis of guidelines and regulations has suggested many ways in which the use of animals could be reduced [1]. However, the widespread failure to use genetically and microbiologically defined animals is scientifically questionable and almost certainly results in the use of excessive numbers. International standardisation on a small number of genetically defined F1 hybrid mice should lead to greater precision in individual tests as well as greater comparability among different laboratories.
authors.affiliation: MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Festing
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001688:Biological Products / Q000592:standards* / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products