Checklist for reporting a study using laboratory animals

Give details of the groups being compared, including control groups. If no control group has been used, the rationale should be stated. Read more

Give details of the experimental unit (e.g., a single animal, litter, or cage of animals). Read more

Specify the exact number of experimental units allocated to each group, and the total number in each experiment. Also indicate the total number of animals used. Read more

Explain how the sample size was decided. Provide details of any a priori sample size calculation, if done. Read more

Describe any criteria used for including or excluding animals (or experimental units) during the experiment, and data points during the analysis. Specify if these criteria were established a priori. If no criteria were set, state this explicitly. Read more

For each experimental group, report any animals, experimental units, or data points not included in the analysis and explain why. If there were no exclusions, state so. Read more

For each analysis, report the exact value of n in each experimental group. Read more

State whether randomisation was used to allocate experimental units to control and treatment groups. If done, provide the method used to generate the randomisation sequence. Read more

Describe the strategy used to minimise potential confounders such as the order of treatments and measurements, or animal/cage location. If confounders were not controlled, state this explicitly. Read more

Describe who was aware of the group allocation at the different stages of the experiment (during the allocation, the conduct of the experiment, the outcome assessment, and the data analysis). Read more

Clearly define all outcome measures assessed (e.g., cell death, molecular markers, or behavioural changes). Read more

For hypothesis-testing studies, specify the primary outcome measure, i.e., the outcome measure that was used to determine the sample size. Read more

Provide details of the statistical methods used for each analysis, including software used. Read more

Describe any methods used to assess whether the data met the assumptions of the statistical approach, and what was done if the assumptions were not met. Read more

Provide species-appropriate details of the animals used, including species, strain and substrain, sex, age or developmental stage, and, if relevant, weight. Read more

Provide further relevant information on the provenance of animals, health/immune status, genetic modification status, genotype, and any previous procedures. Read more

For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate what was done, how it was done, and what was used. Read more

Timing and frequency of procedures. Read more

Where procedures were carried out (including detail of any acclimatisation periods). Read more

Rationale for procedures. Read more

For each experiment conducted, including independent replications, report summary/descriptive statistics for each experimental group, with a measure of variability where applicable (e.g., mean and SD, or median and range). Read more

If applicable, for each experiment conducted, including independent replications, report the effect size with a confidence interval. Read more

Provide an accurate summary of the research objectives, animal species, strain and sex, key methods, principal findings, and study conclusions. Read more

Include sufficient scientific background to understand the rationale and context for the study, and explain the experimental approach. Read more

Explain how the animal species and model used address the scientific objectives and, where appropriate, the relevance to human biology. Read more

Clearly describe the research question, research objectives and, where appropriate, specific hypotheses being tested. Read more

Provide the name of the ethical review committee or equivalent that has approved the use of animals in this study and any relevant licence or protocol numbers (if applicable). If ethical approval was not sought or granted, provide a justification. Read more

Provide details of housing and husbandry conditions, including any environmental enrichment. Read more

Describe any interventions or steps taken in the experimental protocols to reduce pain, suffering, and distress. Read more

Report any expected or unexpected adverse events. Read more

Describe the humane endpoints established for the study, the signs that were monitored, and the frequency of monitoring. If the study did not set humane endpoints, state this. Read more

Interpret the results, taking into account the study objectives and hypotheses, current theory, and other relevant studies in the literature. Read more

Comment on the study limitations, including potential sources of bias, limitations of the animal model, and imprecision associated with the results. Read more

Comment on whether, and how, the findings of this study are likely to generalise to other species or experimental conditions, including any relevance to human biology (where appropriate). Read more

Provide a statement indicating whether a protocol (including the research question, key design features, and analysis plan) was prepared before the study, and if and where this protocol was registered. Read more

Provide a statement describing if and where study data are available. Read more

Declare any potential conflicts of interest, including financial and nonfinancial. If none exist, this should be stated. Read more

List all funding sources (including grant identifier) and the role of the funder(s) in the design, analysis, and reporting of the study. Read more