Principal investigators must incorporate efforts to use the fewest animals possible when planning research activities. Obviously, there must be enough for reliable statistical analysis and to have a buffer to cover for unforeseen problems. A consultation with a medical statistician will help establish the optimum number for a valid study.
Another Reduction method is to use healthy, pathogen-free animals that will result in lower morbidity and mortality, and will yield more consistent data.
Numbers can also be reduced by having investigators share animals by each acquiring samples for analysis in protocols approved by the IACUC.
Animal numbers can also be reduced by avoiding unnecessary duplication of a project by a careful, intensive literature search.
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