Testing and Three Rs

Humane Endpoints in Testing

In the past, studies such as safety toxicity, efficacy and potency testing; cancer research; and infectious disease investigation may have required continuation until the death of the animal. However, in the face of distinct signs that such processes are causing irreversible pain or distress, humane endpoints should be sought to satisfy the requirements of the study and to minimize the impact on the animal.

For more information on humane endpoints in testing the following resources may be useful:

CCAC resources

• Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) (2008) Humane endpoints
  
  
• Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) (1998) CCAC guidelines on: choosing an appropriate endpoint in experiments using animals in research, teaching and testing. 33pp. Ottawa ON:CCAC.

Online resources

• Hendriksen C. & Steen B. (2000) Refinement of vaccine potency testing with the use of humane endpoint. ILAR 41 (2).
• Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) (2000) Guidance document on the recognition, assessment, and use of clinical signs as humane endpoints for experimental animals used in safety evaluation. OECD Environmental Health and Safety Publications. Testing and Assessment, No. 19. Paris: OECD.
• Sass N. (2000) Humane Endpoints and Acute Toxicity Testing. ILAR 41(2).
• Stokes W. (2002) Humane endpoints for laboratory animals used in regulatory testing. ILAR 43(Supple.):S31-S38.

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