Better Science IX. CRUELTY-FREE IN VITRO In vitro alternatives are generally accepted as more humane replacements for animal-based procedures. However, it is not widely known that in vitro techniques may not necessarily be cruelty-free. Cells used in such cultures may be directly derived from non-human animals. To be cruelty-free, human or existing animal cell lines should be the source for all cells, tissues and organs used in research and testing. It is also common for cell cultures (and most organ and tissue cultures) to be created with primary cells (cells derived from recently killed animals) rather than immortalized cells. Thus every time a culture is started, one or more animals may be killed. To be cruelty-free, all in vitro techniques should utilize only immortalized animal cells or primary human cells, tissues and organs. Even if the cells are immortalized or of human origin, there remains the concerns created by supplements added to the culture media to promote the growth and survival of the cells, tissues and/or organs. There are a variety of bioactive compounds used as supplements, with the most serious problems being associated with the production and use of fetal calf serum (FCS) or serum from other animals. FCS production involves conditions associated with high levels of cruelty, pain and distress including, but not limited to, puncturing the heart and draining all of the blood from unanesthetized animals. To be cruelty-free, in vitro methods must utilize cells, tissues and organs specifically adapted to serum-free culture media or the use of supplements derived from in vitro production techniques or human blood serum. Although readily available, such alternative sources of cell and tissue growth supplements are often ignored due to reliance on more familiar or traditional animal-based production methods. << Back To Contents | Next Section >>

Other NEAVS Fact Sheets: Benefits of Non-Animal Tests | Xenotransplants | Animal Welfare Act | Limitations of Animal Tests | Non-Animal Product Safety Test Alternatives << Back to Better Science  | Home