424 • Alternatives to Animal Use in Research, Testing, and Education 
NAS 
NASA 
NBS 
NCI 
NCTR 
NIDA 
NIEHS 
NIH 
NIHARC 
NIMH 
NIOSH 
NLM 
NRC 
NSF 
NTIS 
NTP 
NWHL 
OECD 
OHER 
ONR 
OPRR 
OSHA 
OSTP 
OTA 
OTS 
PHS 
PMA 
PRI 
QSAR 
RCRA 
R&D 
RRF 
RTECS 
—National Academy of Sciences 
— National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration 
—National Bureau of Standards 
(Department of Commerce) 
—National Cancer Institute (NIH) 
—National Center for Toxicological 
Research (FDA) 
—National Institute on Drug Abuse 
(ADAMHA) 
—National Institute of Environmental 
Health Sciences (NIH) 
—National Institutes of Health (PHS, 
DHHS) 
—National Institutes of Health Animal 
Research Committee 
—National Institute of Mental Health 
(ADAMHA) 
—National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (CDC) 
—National Library of Medicine (NIH) 
—National Research Council 
—National Science Foundation 
—National Technical Information Service 
(Department of Commerce) 
—National Toxicology Program (NIEHS) 
—National Wildlife Health Laboratory 
—Organization for Economic Cooperation 
and Development 
—Office of Health and Environmental 
Research (DOE) 
—Office of Naval Research (Navy) 
—Office for Protection from Research 
Risks (NIH) 
—Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (U.S. Department of 
Labor) 
—Office of Science and Technology 
Policy (Executive Office of the 
President) 
—Office of Technology Assessment (U.S. 
Congress) 
—Office of Toxic Substances (EPA) 
— U.S. Public Health Service (DHHS) 
—Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ 
Association 
— Primate Research Institute (University 
of New Mexico) 
—quantitative structure -activity 
relationships 
—Resource Conservation and Recovery 
Act 
—research and development 
—Registered Research Facility 
—Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical 
Substances (NIOSH) 
SBIR 
SPCA 
SSR 
TDB 
TSCA 
UNEP 
UNESCO 
USD A 
VA 
WHO 
WRPRC 
— Small Business Innovation Research 
(program) 
—Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Animals 
—Society for the Study of Reproduction 
—Toxicology Data Bank (NLM) 
—Toxic Substances Control Act 
—United Nations Environment Program 
—United Nations Educational, Scientific, 
and Cultural Organization 
—U.S. Department of Agriculture 
—U.S. Veterans’ Administration 
—World Health Organization 
—Wisconsin Regional Primate Research 
Center 
Glossary of Terms 
Acute Toxicity Test: Tests that are used to detect the 
toxic effects of single or multiple exposures to a sub- 
stance occurring within 24 hours. These are fre- 
quently the first tests performed to determine the 
toxic characteristics of a given substance. One of the 
most common acute toxicity tests is the LD S0 test. 
Alternatives to Animal Use: For purposes of this 
assessment, OTA has chosen to define "alternatives" 
as encompassing any subjects, protocols, or technol- 
ogies that replace the use of laboratory animals al- 
together; reduce the number of animals required; 
or refine existing procedures or techniques so as to 
minimize the level of stress endured by the animal. 
These technologies involve the continued, but modi- 
fied, use of animals; use of living systems; use of chem- 
ical and physical systems; and use of computers. 
American Association for Accreditation of Labo- 
ratory Animal Care(AAALAC): A voluntary private 
organization that, by April 1985, provided accredi- 
tation for 483 institutions. AAALAC accreditation is 
based on the provisions of the NIH Guide for the Care 
and Use of Laboratory Animals, and is recognized 
by the PHS. 
Ames Test: The most commonly used test for mutage- 
nicity, it tests “reverse mutation” by exposing an al- 
ready mutated strain of micro-organism to potential 
mutagens. If the mutation is reversed the micro- 
organisms regain their ability to produce the amino 
acid histidine and will proliferate in a histidine- 
deficient culture medium. However, when used alone 
the Ames test does not seem to be as predictive of 
human carcinogenicity as are animal tests. 
Analgesic: An agent that relieves pain without caus- 
ing loss of consciousness. 
Anesthetic: An agent that causes loss of the sensation 
of pain, usually without loss of consciousness. Anes- 
thetics may be classified as topical, local, or general. 
