Association of Primate Veterinarians' Guidelines for Post Research Retirement of Nonhuman Primates

The Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) supports the responsible use of primates in biomedical research. Honoring the spirit of the 3Rs, these guidelines focus on refinement to explore post research retirement of eligible primates. APV supports the careful evaluation of each animal to determine if retirement is appropriate. Depending on prior use of the animal, animal reuse/reassignment may be an option prior to a decision to retire a primate. The following guidelines aim to provide information to institutions, researchers, animal care-givers, veterinarians, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) on the practical aspects of post research retirement of primates.