HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 137 
though both activities may be carried on in close proximity to 
each other. In this situation it is difficult to promote uni- 
formly high standards and a broad interest in laboratory animal 
care . 
3. Training of animal care personnel . 
In some instances inefficiencies in animal care could 
be attributed to inadequate training of animal care personnel. 
If there is limited professional competence in an institution's 
laboratory animal care program, animal technicians cannot be well 
trained. Proper training is not simply a matter of association 
of technicians with laboratory animals. It requires systematic 
presentation of a specific body of information, as well as the 
acquisition of manual skills. Presently, four of the insti- 
tutions visited provide formal class room instruction for animal 
technicians. (Table 5). Most depend on informal instruction 
on the job to train technicians. 
Recently, animal technician training courses have 
become available through the Technical Guidance Committee of 
the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, and through the 
Animal Care Panel and its local branches. A technician certi- 
fication program has been initiated by the Animal Care Panel. 
Films, books, pamphlets, and even a correspondence course for 
animal technicians are available. All research institutions 
should take advantage of these developments as one important 
means of advancing the training and performance of animal 
technicians. 
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