Animal-free Reagents and the 3Rs in Research

For many years, animals have been used in research to explore important scientific issues and increase our understanding of numerous diseases. However, animal models and animal derived components are often costly and can lead to experimental limitations, such as poor relevance to human biology and can raise ethical concerns regarding their use and welfare. Alternative models and sources for common lab reagents can address some of these concerns. In the last decade or so, advances in science and technology have meant that there are now realistic options to replace the use of animals for research and reagent production.

What are the 3Rs?

The principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) were developed over 50 years ago, providing a framework for performing more humane animal research. Since then, the principles have been embedded in legislation and regulations for the use of animals in scientific procedures, as well as in the policies of organisations that fund or conduct animal research.

Definitions of the 3Rs

 

	Definition	Implementation
Replacement	Methods which avoid or replace the use of animals.	Accelerating the development and use of models and tools, based on the latest science and technologies, to address important scientific questions without the use of animals.
Reduction	Methods which minimise the number of animals used per experiment.	Appropriately designed and analysed animal experiments that are robust and reproducible, and truly add to the knowledge base.
Refinement	Methods which minimise animal suffering and improve welfare.	Advancing animal welfare by exploiting the latest in vivo technologies and by improving understanding of the impact of welfare on scientific outcomes.

Biorbyt is pleased to supply a range of animal-free products by Invitria. From serum to media, we can provide a wide range of reagents as alternatives to consider when planning your research.

Why Use Invitria?

• Achieve cell growth and productivity objectives without using serum.
• Does not contain undefined plant hydrolysates, human blood-derived components or animal-derived components.
• Manufactured in the United States in a tertiary-level, animal component-free, ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.