Lab practices highest standards
Published 5:04 pm Friday, May 3, 2013
Regarding the letter, “Support humane alternatives”: While I agree with the writer’s advocacy of exploring alternatives to animal testing, I take exception to the inaccuracies in her letter concerning animal testing at SNBL. On April 26, about a dozen animal rights activists protested outside SNBL’s gates. We support their right to protest and make their feelings known. We appreciate the good and appropriate behavior in their recent protest. This has not always been the case. In the past, protesters have screamed obscenities at our employees and endangered their safety by blocking their view of oncoming traffic with their signs as they exit our facility.
Our animals are well cared for. Animal care and welfare is one of our highest priorities. A recent USDA inspection resulted in no findings. Our animal care program and facility are audited by the USDA, FDA, and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, as are many of our clients on a regular basis. We are relentless in our efforts to provide the best care possible for our animals. Our recent AAALAC inspection resulted in full re-accreditation and produced some complimentary comments on our animal enrichment program and the overall welfare of our animals.
Like all preclinical research companies, we adhere to the “three R’s concept”: Replace, reduce, refine. We replace animal testing with in-vitro (in test tube) or other methods whenever possible. We reduce the number of animals used to lowest possible and reuse animals whenever appropriate. We refine our testing to provide the best data with the least discomfort to the fewest animals. This makes sense scientifically, financially and ethically. If we could gather the safety data required without using animals, we certainly would. Actually, many tests that previously required animals are now replaced with in-vitro type assays. At this time however, the best models we have to assure human safety require some animal testing. We are always looking for simpler, more economical, technologies that will reduce our animal usage while maintaining safety.
The work we do here is critical to getting new medicines and diagnostics to the market to save lives and relieve human suffering. We strive every day to perform this work to highest ethical and scientific standards.
Mark Crane
Vice President — Business Development and Marketing
SNBL USA, Ltd.
Everett
