What is the primary goal of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals?

The primary goal of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is to ensure the humane treatment of laboratory animals. This comprehensive document serves as a foundation for the ethical considerations surrounding the care and use of animals in research. It provides important guidelines on housing, welfare, and handling that are essential in fostering a humane environment for the animals involved.

The Guide emphasizes the responsibility of institutions to treat laboratory animals with respect and to minimize any pain or distress they may experience. By prioritizing humane treatment, the Guide not only promotes ethical standards in research but also enhances the scientific validity of research outcomes. This is because animals that are well cared for are likely to produce more reliable and valid results.

While other choices might reflect relevant aspects of laboratory animal use, they do not encapsulate the primary intention of the Guide. Promoting animal research, standardizing laboratory practices, and minimizing research costs are important in their own right but do not directly address the primary ethical concern that the Guide seeks to uphold.