Norecopa works withall research species
Norecopa’s administration is affiliatedto the Norwegian Veterinary Institute,but Norecopa is an independent
member organisation with its own
Board
thatrepresents
fourstakeholders:

PREPARE for Better Science

We work to advance theThree Rs in animal researchand testing:

Regulators
ResearchIndustry

 Replacement
 Reduction
 Refinement

Animalwelfare

norecopa.noWe issue an English-language
newsletter 7-8 times a year about thelatest
developments
withinalternatives to animal use in science.

+47-41220949
post@norecopa.no

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Join us!
Individuals and institutions
members of Norecopa.

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canbe@norecopa
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Norecopa’s staff have had over 30years’
experienceof
producingdatabases with resources designed toreplace, reduce or refine animalresearch.

Norecopa
also
maintains
aRefinement Wiki, where others cancontribute resources to improveanimal research:

How can we improve animal studies?

In collaborat
produced gu
which mightThelimbsandthings.com
norecopa.no/NORINA

3dglasshorse.com

Norecopa: PREPARE for better Science
rescuecritters.com

virtualphysiology.com

Norecopa’s free website also
contains many other resources,
The checkl
including links to over 400
in over 30 lguidelines for planning, conducting
collaboration with UK experts we haveand reporting animal research. Inproduced
guidance for planning studies
norecopa.no/prepare/film

limbsandthings.com

which might involve animals:
The PREPARE Guidelines

For more information, go toThe checklist in PREPARE is available
Norecopa’s free website also
contains many other resources,
including links to over 400
guidelines for planning, conductingand reporting animal research.

norecopa.noFor more information, go tonorecopa.noin over 30 languages:

PREPAREThe PREPARE Guidelines Checklist

Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence

PREPARE1 consists of planning guidelines which are complementary to reporting guidelines such as ARRIVE2.
PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies:
1. Formulation of the study
2. Dialogue between scientists and the animal facility
3. Quality control of the components in the study
The topics will not always be addressed in the order in which they are presented here, and some topics overlap. The PREPARE
checklist can be adapted to meet special needs, such as field studies. PREPARE includes guidance on the management of animal
facilities, since in-house experiments are dependent upon their quality. The full version of the guidelines is available on the Norecopa
website, with links to global resources, at https://norecopa.no/PREPARE.
The PREPARE guidelines are a dynamic set which will evolve as more species- and situation-specific guidelines are produced,and as best practice within Laboratory Animal Science progresses.
Recommendation

searches

2. Legal issues

Construct a detailed plan for division of labour and expenses at all stages of the study.
6. Facilityevaluation

Discuss staffing levels at times of extra risk.

7. Education andtraining

to the study.

8. Health risks,
waste disposal anddecontamination

Conduct a physical inspection of the facilities, to evaluate building and equipment standards and needs.

Assess the current competence of staff members and the need for further education or training prior

Perform a risk assessment, in collaboration with the animal facility, for all persons and animals affected
directly or indirectly by the study.
Assess, and if necessary produce, specific guidance for all stages of the project.
Discuss means for containment, decontamination, and disposal of all items in the study.

(C) Quality control of the components in the study

Consider the feasibility and validity of test procedures and the skills needed to perform them.

Form a clear hypothesis, with primary and secondary outcomes.
Consider the use of systematic reviews.
Decide upon databases and information specialists to be consulted, and construct search terms.
Assess the relevance of the species to be used, its biology and suitability to answer the experimental
questions with the least suffering, and its welfare needs.
Assess the reproducibility and translatability of the project.

10. Experimental
animals

Avoid generation of surplus animals.

11. Quarantine andhealth monitoring

Discuss the animals’ likely health status, any needs for transport, quarantine and isolation,

Consider how the research is affected by relevant legislation for animal research and other areas, e.g.

12. Housing andhusbandry

Attend to the animals’ specific instincts and needs, in collaboration with expert staff.

animal transport, occupational health and safety.

Construct a lay summary.

harm-benefit

In dialogue with ethics committees, consider whether statements about this type of research haveassessment andalready been produced.

humane endpoints

Address the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) and the 3Ss (good science, good sense,good sensibilities).
Consider pre-registration and the publication of negative results.
Perform a harm-benefit assessment and justify any likely animal harm.

Provide as much information as possible about test substances.

Decide upon the characteristics of the animals that are essential for the study and for reporting.

health monitoring and consequences for the personnel.

Discuss acclimatization, optimal housing conditions and procedures, environmental factors and any
experimental limitations on these (e.g. food deprivation, solitary housing).

Locate relevant guidance documents (e.g. EU guidance on project evaluation).
3. Ethical issues,

Construct an approximate timescale for the project, indicating the need for assistance with preparation,
animal care, procedures and waste disposal/decontamination.

9. Test substancesand procedures(A) Formulation of the study
1. Literature

Arrange meetings with all relevant staff when early plans for the project exist.

Discuss and disclose all expected and potential costs.

Adrian J. Smitha, R. Eddie Cluttonb, Elliot Lilleyc, Kristine E. Aa. Hansend & Trond Brattelide
Norecopa, c/o Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway; bRoyal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush,Midlothian, EH25 9RG, U.K.; cResearch Animals Department, Science Group, RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 9RS, U.K.;
dSection of Experimental Biomedicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of LifeSciences, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway; eDivision for Research Management and External Funding, Western Norway University of AppliedSciences, 5020 Bergen, Norway.

Recommendation(B) Dialogue between scientists and the animal facility
5. Objectives andtimescale, funding
and division oflabouraTopic

norecopa.no/Textbase

Topic

13. Experimentalprocedures

Develop refined procedures for capture, immobilisation, marking, and release or rehoming.
Develop refined procedures for substance administration, sampling, sedation and anaesthesia, surgery
and other techniques.

14. Humane killing,release, reuse orrehoming

Consult relevant legislation and guidelines well in advance of the study.

15. Necropsy

Construct a systematic plan for all stages of necropsy, including location, and identification of all

Define primary and emergency methods for humane killing.
Assess the competence of those who may have to perform these tasks.

Discuss the learning objectives, if the animal use is for educational or training purposes.
Allocate a severity classification to the project.

animals and samples.

Define objective, easily measurable and unequivocal humane endpoints.
Discuss the justification, if any, for death as an end-point.
4. Experimental

Consider pilot studies, statistical power and significance levels.

design andDefine the experimental unit and decide upon animal numbers.

statistical analysis

Choose methods of randomisation, prevent observer bias, and decide upon inclusionand exclusion criteria.

References
1. Smith AJ, Clutton RE, Lilley E, Hansen KEA & Brattelid T (2018) PREPARE Guidelines for Planning Animal Research and Testing.
Laboratory Animals, 52(2):135-141. https://doi.org/10.1177/0023677217724823
2. Percie du Sert N, Hurst V, Ahluwalia A, Alam S, Avey MT, Baker M et al. (2020) The ARRIVE guidelines 2.0:
Updated guidelines for reporting animal research. PLoS Biol 18(7): e3000410. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000410

norecopa.no/prepare
Further information
https://norecopa.no/PREPARE | post@norecopa.no |@norecopa