Alternative Methods Of Animal Testing

Each day, everyday people are affected by products that have been approved through the means of either animal testing or other alternative methods. Each item a consumer purchases such as cosmetics, hair dye or lotions, the consumer is potentially promoting these particular companies, most of which condone their research on animals. Testing of any kind is done to ensure consumer safety of a product before it is marketed to the public. Animal activists question the use animals at all, while the opposing side argues that animal are the only choice. So which way of testing is right? Today most research is conducted using animals with the aid of alternatives. Why is it that neither procedure has dominated over the other? Are animals used as tests …show more content…
Products can be deemed safe by using alternative methods. More than five thousand existing ingredients have been established without the means of animal testing and are proven to be effective and safe. Nationwide as many as five hundred brands are recognized as cruelty-free brand (Humane Society). That means all ingredients used in their products have not been tested on animals. These innovative companies do not conduct any new testing on animals and do not sell product to countries that require the products be tested on animals. Testing on animals is seen as inhumane and as it does kills an estimated total of twenty-six million animals through the course of a year (ProCon). Modern science is replacing animal tests with kinder, faster and better tools for consumer safety. These methods include but are not limited to; the test tube method, artificial tissue, computer modeling, microdosing, MRI scanning and in-vitro testing with a total number of nearly fifty different methods all approved internationally. In order to be considered an alternative method, these modern tests must meet one or more of the following criteria. It must replace an existing procedure, reduce the amount of animals used and/or refine-alleviate-minimize pain and discomfort to the animal. Supercomputers come very close in replicating an experiment making it another good way to get around using animals. Unfortunately, …show more content…
Using alternative methods to end the testing on animals would be ideal but is not realistic. The approval process for approving new methods is an extremely slow process in the United States. Furthermore, extensive research much be done before any sort of alternative can be put to use. Recent technologies have efficiently reduced the number of animals used in research falling by fifty percent since the nineteen-seventies (Rowan). Though alternative methods do exist, and are effective; they may never be able replace experimentation on animals entirely (Speaking of Research). Current alternatives are not far enough advanced to replicate the information received when using animals. Animals used in research are protected by agencies such as the AWA to ensure animals receive adequate veterinary care and are used in the most efficient ways. Giving an exact number of animals victimized by testing is unclear because most victims are cold-blooded animals. None of which are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act or any minimal protection at all. That leaves ninety-five percent of animals that make up testing uncounted. In other attempts to protect animals, laws require the substitution of animals whenever possible (Speaking of