CPSEA guidelines: veterinary care MCQs With Answer

Introduction:

This blog provides a focused set of multiple-choice questions on CPSEA/CPCSEA guidelines related to veterinary care for M. Pharm students preparing for Research Methodology & Biostatistics exams. The questions emphasize regulatory requirements, institutional responsibilities, animal welfare principles (3Rs), housing and husbandry standards, perioperative care, monitoring, and humane endpoints. Each MCQ is designed to deepen understanding of practical and ethical aspects of laboratory animal use, including committee roles, quarantine, acclimatization, environmental parameters, veterinary oversight, and documentation. Use these questions to test knowledge, identify gaps, and reinforce best practices required for compliance with national animal welfare regulations and for conducting ethically sound experiments.

Q1. Which statutory body in India issues and enforces guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals in research institutions?

• CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)
• ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)
• DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India)
• WHO (World Health Organization)

Correct Answer: CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)

Q2. Which institutional body is primarily responsible for reviewing and approving experimental protocols involving animals before studies begin?

• Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
• Institutional Ethics Committee for Human Research (IEC)
• Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)
• Drug Safety Committee

Correct Answer: Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)

Q3. What do the “3Rs” in laboratory animal science stand for, which CPCSEA emphasises to promote humane research?

• Replacement, Reduction, Refinement
• Research, Reporting, Regulation
• Restraint, Recovery, Rehabilitation
• Recordkeeping, Review, Reuse

Correct Answer: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement

Q4. What minimum acclimatization period is recommended for newly received laboratory rodents before experimental procedures?

• At least 1 day
• At least 3 days
• At least 5–7 days
• At least 14 days

Correct Answer: At least 5–7 days

Q5. Which of the following personnel is explicitly required as a member of the IAEC to provide expertise on animal health and welfare?

• A pharmacologist
• A qualified veterinary surgeon
• A clinical trial monitor
• An industrial representative

Correct Answer: A qualified veterinary surgeon

Q6. What is the recommended ambient temperature range for housing common laboratory rodents under CPCSEA guidelines?

• 10–15°C
• 20–26°C
• 28–32°C
• 35–40°C

Correct Answer: 20–26°C

Q7. What is the standard light–dark cycle commonly recommended for laboratory rodents to maintain normal physiological rhythms?

• 24 hours light continuously
• 18 hours light : 6 hours dark
• 12 hours light : 12 hours dark
• 6 hours light : 18 hours dark

Correct Answer: 12 hours light : 12 hours dark

Q8. According to CPCSEA principles for humane euthanasia, which method is universally accepted for laboratory animals when performed appropriately?

• Euthanasia by overcrowding in cages
• Euthanasia by overdose of approved anesthetic agents
• Euthanasia by exposing animals to extreme cold
• Euthanasia by withholding food and water

Correct Answer: Euthanasia by overdose of approved anesthetic agents

Q9. What minimum quarantine period is typically required for newly acquired animals to monitor health and prevent disease introduction?

• No quarantine required
• Minimum 7 days
• Minimum 30 days
• Minimum 90 days

Correct Answer: Minimum 7 days

Q10. If a procedure is expected to cause pain or distress to an animal, what is the ethically and regulatorily required action under CPCSEA guidance?

• Proceed without mitigation to obtain raw data
• Use appropriate anesthesia and analgesia and refine the procedure
• Only use physical restraint without analgesia
• Delay the experiment until animals adapt to pain

Correct Answer: Use appropriate anesthesia and analgesia and refine the procedure

Q11. Which practice is essential for postoperative care of animals following surgical procedures per veterinary care guidelines?

• Immediate release to the general colony without monitoring
• Provide analgesics, monitor recovery, and maintain detailed records
• Keep animals fasting for 72 hours with no fluids
• Use only topical antiseptics without systemic care

Correct Answer: Provide analgesics, monitor recovery, and maintain detailed records

Q12. Environmental enrichment as promoted by CPCSEA aims primarily to:

• Increase experimental variability
• Reduce welfare and limit activity
• Provide nesting material and opportunities for species-typical behaviours
• Ensure animals are isolated at all times

Correct Answer: Provide nesting material and opportunities for species-typical behaviours

Q13. According to good husbandry practices, what is the standard recommendation for provision of food and water to laboratory animals?

• Food only once a week and water twice a week
• Provide a standard laboratory diet and potable water ad libitum unless scientifically justified
• Provide only experimental feed during the entire study
• Replace water with electrolyte solutions permanently

Correct Answer: Provide a standard laboratory diet and potable water ad libitum unless scientifically justified

Q14. Which of the following best describes required surgical asepsis in animal experiments?

• Surgery may be performed without sterilization if brief
• Use of sterile instruments, aseptic technique, and trained personnel
• Sterilization of instruments only after the procedure
• Use ungloved hands to improve tactile feedback

Correct Answer: Use of sterile instruments, aseptic technique, and trained personnel

Q15. What documentation related to animal use and veterinary care should institutions maintain for CPCSEA inspection?

• Only financial invoices for animal purchase
• Minimal notes kept informally
• Detailed records of animal procurement, housing, experimental procedures, and veterinary care
• Only photographs of animals

Correct Answer: Detailed records of animal procurement, housing, experimental procedures, and veterinary care

Q16. For use of wild-caught or protected species in research, CPCSEA requires:

• No special permission beyond IAEC approval
• Special permission from CPCSEA or relevant wildlife authorities in addition to IAEC approval
• Only verbal consent from the principal investigator
• Immediate release after capture without approval

Correct Answer: Special permission from CPCSEA or relevant wildlife authorities in addition to IAEC approval

Q17. What is the requirement concerning training of personnel who handle laboratory animals?

• Training is optional and only for veterinarians
• Mandatory training in animal handling, species-specific care, and experimental procedures
• Training only in data analysis, not animal handling
• Training can be deferred until after project completion

Correct Answer: Mandatory training in animal handling, species-specific care, and experimental procedures

Q18. Sentinel animals in a facility are primarily used for:

• Serving as experimental controls for behavior studies
• Being sacrificed routinely without reason
• Microbiological monitoring to detect colony infections
• Providing extra breeding stock

Correct Answer: Microbiological monitoring to detect colony infections

Q19. Cage density and housing space under CPCSEA guidelines should be determined by:

• Random assignment by the animal attendant
• Species-specific guidelines considering welfare, social needs, and experimental objectives
• Maximizing number of animals per cage for cost savings
• Always housing animals in isolation regardless of species

Correct Answer: Species-specific guidelines considering welfare, social needs, and experimental objectives

Q20. The concept of “humane endpoints” in animal research refers to:

• Waiting until natural death to collect data
• Predetermined criteria to end or alleviate an experiment to prevent undue suffering
• Extending experiments until final study objectives are met regardless of suffering
• Using endpoints that maximize animal distress for clearer results

Correct Answer: Predetermined criteria to end or alleviate an experiment to prevent undue suffering

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