Which term describes the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement used to improve animal research?

• A. Good Laboratory Practice
• B. Animal Welfare Act
• C. Reduction, Replacement, Refinement
• D. Ethical Review

Answer: (C)

The 3Rs framework guides humane animal use in research. It encapsulates three strategies: Replacement, using non-animal methods or less-sentient models when possible; Reduction, using fewer animals through solid experimental design and statistics; and Refinement, minimizing pain and distress with better techniques, anesthesia/analgesia, and humane endpoints. This approach underpins many regulations and institutional oversight, because it prioritizes scientific goals while reducing animal impact. The term that names all three components is the Reduction, Replacement, Refinement framework (the 3Rs), even if the order of the words varies. The other options refer to different regulatory concepts rather than the specific 3Rs framework.