Types of Animal Testing

Animal testing is a hotly debated issue. Whether it is important for the health and safety of humans or whether it is unnecessary, inconclusive and cruel, many universities and corporations use animal testing. Likewise, there are many different types of animal testing.

Function

Animal testing is used to see how a product could possible effect humans, animals and the environment. The different demands for animal testing come from the medical field, household products, agricultural chemicals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, paint, food additives and beauty products.

Types

There are three general types of animal testing. Product testing is the testing of products such as soaps, cosmetics, household cleaners and pesticides on animals to ensure they are safe for human use. Research uses the testing of drugs and medical procedures on animals. Education and training uses animals to teach anatomy and to train medical students.

Product Testing on Eyes and Skin

The Draize eye test tests how chemicals effect eyes by placing chemicals one eye of a test rabbit. Skin corrosion tests use rabbits to test for irreversible damage to skin by different products. The ears of mice are used in skin sensitization testing, which tests for allergic reactions. Rats are used to test the absorption of chemicals in skin absorption tests.

Product Testing for Internal Damage

Acute toxicity uses mice and rats to test what could be caused by chemical exposure by mouth, skin or inhalation. Dogs are used in repeated dose toxicity, which uses the same methods as acute toxicity but tests for long-term effects. Pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic tests use rats and mice to test toxic substances and the different effects they may have when eaten, inhaled, injected or absorbed. Rats and mice are used to test for mutations caused by an agent in mutagenicity testing as well as in the testing of the carcinogenicity of an substance. Reproductive toxicity is tested on pregnant rats and rabbits to see how a substance effects the development of the unborn as well as the reproductive organs. Hens and rats are used to test how a substance effects the nervous system in neurotoxicity tests. Ecotoxicity tests use fish to test the effects of chemicals on the environment.

Research Testing

Pyrogenicity testing uses rabbits to test the effects of vaccines and injectable medications to seek out any fever-causing contaminants. Preclinical testing is done on mice, rabbits, dogs and primates for all human and veterinary medicinal products to test for possible side effects and long-term effects. Preclinical testing is also required of vaccines to test for the purity, safety and potency of vaccines using mice, rats and rabbits.

References

• American Anti-Vivisection Society
• Act Now on Animal Testing
• The Humane Society of the United States

Resources

• Source Watch on Animal Testing
• BBC Newsround