The use of the three Rs in animal testing are principles for the ethical use of animals in testing:

Replacement

Replacement refers to the preferred use of non-animal methods over animal use methods in the attainment of a similar level of results. Some of the practical alternatives that follow the replacement guidelines include the use of cell cultures, in vitro models, and imaging and computer models. The extraction of insulin from bacterial cultures is among the most popular examples of replacement.

Reduction

Reduction refers to the utilization of better statistical analysis and quality study design that requires the use of the least number of animals in order to obtain maximum information. Poor experimental design and inappropriate statistical analysis of experimental results can lead to inefficient use of animals and scientific resources in toxicological research. Experts believe that an understanding of statistics and experimental design is necessary.

Refinement

The refinement of animal procedures refers to the improvement of scientific techniques that minimize pain and suffering over the lifetime of the animals. Refinement of techniques helps mitigate conditions that cause hormonal imbalance such as stress and discomfort, which could lead to fluctuations in the test results. For example, a study on genetically modified mice for Huntington’s disease showed remarkable fluctuations in results when mice were provided with comfortable and near-natural environments compared to the caged barren.