Posted by QuickReadAbout.com Staff in If you want to get people worked up, you bring up the subject of laboratory testing. This is a very heated issue for many people, and there’s a very good reason for that. Some testing is done on animals, and many people think, myself included, that this practice is cruel. There have been so many advances in technology, and you would think someone would have come up with a better way to test new products.
A lot of laboratory testing is done for a very good reason. When there is a new product that is to be applied to the skin, hair, or to be put in the body, it must be tested to be sure it will not harm anyone. As I can understand. There are many things that have been used for a long time that still work just fine. Those opposed to laboratory testing on animals will say that there’s no reason why these products cannot be used in the future.
The problem is that most companies want to come up with something new to get your money. If they can offer you something you have never had before, they think you will run out to try the new product. They must use laboratory testing to make sure the ingredients in this new product are safe. When this testing is done, some of it is still done using animals. You have heard stories about puppies, kittens, and rats being used to make sure a shampoo or conditioner will not harm the eyes, and you can bet that the stories are true. I honestly don’t know what can be done about it, but I wish there was in other way.
Other types of laboratory testing have nothing to do with animals. When a medication is new, it must be tested on people to see that is safe. The difference here is that the people involved with this type of laboratory testing are willing participants. They are aware of any danger before they entered the trial. These folks are usually people who are living with a condition and they want relief as soon as possible. This means that they are willing to take a chance to see if a medication will help them and others who may be living with the same condition. I guess in the end, the matter of laboratory testing will come down to the need to do so. We may never be able to stop them from testing on animals, but if you want to make a difference, you can boycott the companies that do so. You may not see in a lot of results at first, but if enough people join you, perhaps these practices will change.