Using masking/blinding in in vivo experiments
Practical guidance and examples of strategies that can be used to mask group allocation in animal studies.
A qualitative study of the barriers to using blinding in in vivo experiments and suggestions for improvement
![Two persons with one wearing a mask over their eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/image_16_9/public/2022-11/person%20with%20cupped%20hands_maskon_crimson150dpi-01.png?itok=SD1KyIBh)
Further details on the definitions of masking and randomisation including practical guidance from a book chapter Good Research Practice in Non-Clinical Pharmacology and Biomedicine.
The Experimental Design Assistant provides guidance and support for researchers to use masking in their experiments, including a dedicated feature that generates the randomisation sequence and emails it to a third party.
![The logo of the NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant (EDA)](/sites/default/files/styles/image_16_9/public/2021-11/EDA%20logo%20white%20on%20blue-01.png?itok=xcXQDN9Z)
Item 5 of the ARRIVE guidelines describes how to report the masking/blinding status at different stages of an experiment
![The front cover of the ARRIVE guidelines publication](/sites/default/files/styles/image_16_9/public/2021-09/arrive%20revision.png?itok=kugUwaIk)