d include ERIC; a protocol involving testing toxic effects of compounds should include TOXNET and RTECS. There are many other specific databases available online — both free and subscription based.
Years of Coverage
Years of coverage. When a database is chosen on CD-ROM, the World Wide Web, or on a multi-database system, the publication years covered are listed near the title of the database. The searcher should record the years included in the search based on database coverage or the years selected by the searcher within the search strategy (i.e., 1988-2005).
It is important to become familiar with the informational resources, databases, and services available at your institution in order to most effectively perform an alternatives search. The institution's librarian or information specialist can help with this and should be consulted.
A written narrative is required, one that evaluates the search results and assesses the alternative possibilities. It should support the decisions to both use and to not use available alternatives. Be sure to address refinement and reduction alternatives, not just replacement.
Information on databases
- Agricola (http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/)
- Published by the National Agricultural Library, the Agricola database describes publications and resources encompassing all aspects of agriculture and allied disciplines including: animal science; veterinary science; entomology; plant science; forestry; aquaculture and fisheries; farming, farming systems and crops; agricultural economics; extension and education; food and human nutrition; and earth sciences and environmental sciences.
- Covers 1970s to present.
- AltBib (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/altbib.html)
- Bibliography on Alternatives to the Use of Live Vertebrates in Biomedical Research and Testing, National Library of Medicine. The intent of the bibliography is to assist in identifying methods and procedures helpful in supporting the development, testing, application, and validation of alternatives to the use of vertebrates in biomedical research and toxicology testing. This bibliography is produced from MEDLARS database searches, performed and analyzed by subject experts from the Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) of the Specialized Information Services Division (SIS) of the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
- Covers 1980s to present.
- AltWeb (http://altweb.jhsph.edu/)
- The Alternatives to Animal Testing website was created to serve as a gateway to alternatives news, information, and resources. Altweb is also now the U.S. home of the journal ALTEX: Alternatives to Animal Experimentation, which is the official publication of the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (http://caat.jhsph.edu/) (CAAT)
- ANZCCART (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/) – Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching.
- Many useful resources including Fact Sheets, Newsletters, and publications.
- Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/asfa.asp) (ASFA)
- Includes information on the science, technology and management of marine, freshwater, and brackish water environments and organisms. Database consists of the following subfiles: ASFA 1: Biological Sciences and Living Resources; ASFA 2: Ocean Technology, Policy and Non-Living Resources; ASFA 3: Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Quality; ASFA Aquaculture Abstracts; and ASFA Marine Biotechnology Abstracts.
- Covers 1970s to present.
- AWI (http://www.awionline.org/)
- Comfortable Quarters (http://labanimals.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/cqindex.html).
- Provides access to several focused databases, including primate enrichment, lab animal refinement, rodent and rabbit enrichment, and species-specific housing and handling recommendations.
- BIOSIS (http://www.biosis.org/)
- All life science areas, including agriculture, biochemistry, biomedicine, biotechnology, botany, ecology, environmental sciences, genetics, microbiology, veterinary medicine & pharmacology. Indexes over 6000 journals, serials and confer