What is Animal Testing?

Animal testing is a phrase that most people have heard at some point in their lives but they are perhaps still unsure of exactly what is involved in animal testing. On top of that, there is still a great deal of subjectivity around the meaning behind animal testing. Also, how animal testing is interpreted is partly related to the person's personal views of animal testing. Whether it is called animal testing, animal experimentation or animal research, it refers to the experimental use of non-human animals. This type of experimentation is not done directly for healing purposes although the end result may involve medications used for healing both humans and other animals. Instead, healing an animal would be akin to veterinary medicine, which is entirely different from animal testing. It's also important to note that for those who are opposed to animal testing, they may believe it to mean the torture and suffering of animals, with no other room for additional definition.

Understanding Animal Testing

Animal testing is conducted virtually everywhere and its uses are broad. In the United Kingdom (UK), standards are quite strict with regards to animal testing and monitoring is similarly rigorous. Animal testing only occurs if there is no other viable alternative to the methods. Animal testing may take place at:

• Universities
• Medical schools
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
• Military defence establishments

Using Animal Testing

Animal testing is used for countless products and applications. Everything from items in your home to products you use and medications you take have likely been tested on animals at some point prior to their distribution. Some of the products that commonly involve animal testing are:

• Cosmetics
• Drugs
• Food additives
• Supplements
• Household products
• Pesticides
• Industrial chemicals

Virtually every available medical treatment today has, to some degree, involved animal testing. The animals themselves may be bred specifically for testing or they may be captured in the wild. There are also commercial establishments that sell animals specifically for use in animal testing facilities. Animals are considered to be similar to humans in terms of assessing safety, which means that there are strict requirements for testing on animals with regards to new drugs. In the UK, for example, a new drug must have been tested on two different species of live mammal. However, those who are opposed to animal testing and view it as an unnecessary infliction of suffering cite that the stress an animal experiences will impact the accuracy of the results, rendering them useless. For now, however, animal testing is required before drugs and some other products are available for consumer use.

Animal testing is a controversial subject. Because it is so controversial, the biases that exist on either side can skew the accurate definition of animal testing. Those against it would reply that animal testing creates pain and suffering. They would tend to define animal testing as nothing more than animal suffering. Those who support animal testing may define animal testing as experimentation that uses animals to benefit humans, where it saves lives and provides vital medical treatments. Both sides have some merit and many supporters but ultimately - at a basic level animal testing is the use of non-human animals for experimental purposes. How it is defined in more detailed terms, however, will likely continue to be debated for many years to come.

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