ANIdrop ©, a 3R tool, AFSTAL 2021 innovation prize
The use of animal experimentation in research projects is done only when necessary and after validation by the local ethics committee and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and Innovation. The administrations and the samples are among the most used procedures in the protocols. Thus, those involved in research must know the volumes to be respected as soon as the study is set up. The ethics committees in animal experimentation are very vigilant with regard to compliance with these good practices.
Julien Thévenet, engineer at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lille, in the Laboratory of “Translational Research on Diabetes” (Inserm 1190) is the inventor1 of a simple tool which makes it possible to respect the protocols in a strictly adapted manner to the species used.
Julien Thevenet describes the ANIdrop © tool: “
Based on an extensive bibliographic study, I, with Alexandre Ung and Arnold Dive, imagined and designed a compact tool, which can play the role of a reminder. This disc Physique à 2 Sides lists good practices in administration and collection for 14 of the most common species in animal biology and veterinary medicine.
The different routes of administration that can be envisaged and the conventionally and ethically recommended volumes appear on the first side.
The other side, for its part, deals with the volumes of blood that can be collected from the animal as a function of the species, its average weight and the volume of whole blood of the animal concerned. Very intuitive, all you have to do is spin the ANIdrop © disc to the desired species and thus obtain the information.
Another model was developed specifically for rodents (mice, rats), with information and a more precise body mass range.”
This tool has been approved by all members of the Animal Welfare Structures of the Faculty of Medicine of Lille, and was awarded on March 28 of the 2021 Innovation Prize awarded by the French association of sciences and laboratory animal techniques (AFSTAL).
Many publications are references in the field of sampling and administration and many sites have developed their standard protocol.
KH Diehl in particular described a guide which constitutes a basis by addressing the various possible avenues.
ANIdrop © is the result of extensive and precise bibliographic research. This tool is perfectly anchored in the general principle of the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) initiated by Burch and Russel in 1959. In fact, it will allow further refinement of procedures and projects requiring animals.
The ANIdrop © disc will soon be distributed to researchers, students and technicians at the Lille University Hospital campus as well as to participants in animal training courses conducted at the Lille Faculty of Medicine. The aim is to distribute it to as many local and national research personnel as possible.
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- Turner PV, Brabb T, Pekow T et al. Administration of Substances to Laboratory Animals: Routes of Administration and Factors to Consider – Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science , 50-5 (2011)
- Morton D.B., Jenning, M., Buckwell, A., et al. Refining Procedures for the Administration of Substances. Report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement. Laboratory Animals. 35, 1-41 (2001)
- Russel WMS, Burch RL. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. (1959)
- Canadian Council on Animal Care, Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Vol. 1 (2nd ed), Canada (1993)
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- IQ 3Rs Leadership Group , Recommended Dose Volumes for Common Laboratory Animals – Contract Research Organization Working Group
- H SMith Thomas – Giving injections to cattle – HerefordWorld – (2019)