Code of Practice: Immunisation of laboratory animals

Status: Immunization procedures are still current, but the procedures and the use of adjuvants need to be updated. Additionally, a reconsideration of injection routes and volumes used is required.Immunisation studies are conducted as part of biomedical, biological and chemical research. The immunisation of animals often causes discomfort.

The Working party on Immunisation Procedures of the then Inspectorate for Health Protection and Veterinary Public Health published a CoP in August 2000. This CoP contains guidelines for immunisation procedures that have been approved by experts in the field. These guidelines lead to immunisation procedures in which an optimal immune response is achieved with a minimal burden on the laboratory animal.

This CoP focuses on several factors that influence the degree of distress: the use of adjuvants and the route, injection site, volume and number of immunisations. Welfare monitoring after immunisation and blood sampling is also addressed.

Find the CoP on the immunization of laboratory animals here*.