Location and layout of animal facilities MCQs With Answer

This set of MCQs focuses on the location and layout of animal facilities—an essential topic for M.Pharm students involved in preclinical research and laboratory animal management. Proper siting and design of animal houses ensure animal welfare, reliable experimental data, and regulatory compliance. These questions cover planning principles, zoning and workflow, HVAC and biosecurity, storage and support areas, waste handling, quarantine and isolation, materials and finishes, and relevant guidelines. Use this quiz to test and reinforce practical understanding of how facility design impacts animal health, safety of personnel, experiment integrity, and adherence to national and international standards.

Q1. Which of the following is the most important consideration when selecting the location for an animal facility?

• Proximity to the cafeteria
• Ease of access for visitors
• Isolation from major noise sources and contamination risks
• Availability of large parking lots

Correct Answer: Isolation from major noise sources and contamination risks

Q2. What is the primary purpose of zoning (clean, transition, dirty) in animal facility layout?

• To maximize available floor space
• To separate administrative staff from technical staff
• To control movement and prevent cross-contamination between areas
• To provide aesthetic differences in room finishes

Correct Answer: To control movement and prevent cross-contamination between areas

Q3. In facility design, what is the recommended airflow relationship between animal rooms and adjacent corridors for most conventional facilities?

• Animal rooms should be at positive pressure relative to corridors
• Animal rooms should be at neutral pressure relative to corridors
• Animal rooms should be at negative pressure relative to corridors
• Pressure relationships are irrelevant with HEPA filtration installed

Correct Answer: Animal rooms should be at positive pressure relative to corridors

Q4. Which HVAC component is essential for removing particulates and microbial contaminants from supply air to animal rooms?

• Humidifier
• HEPA filter
• VAV box without filtration
• Carbon monoxide sensor

Correct Answer: HEPA filter

Q5. Where should quarantine and acclimation rooms be located within an animal facility layout?

• Adjacent to the main animal holding rooms for convenience
• At the facility entrance with controlled separate access
• Next to the necropsy suite to facilitate disposal
• Within the administrative office area

Correct Answer: At the facility entrance with controlled separate access

Q6. Which surface material is most appropriate for floors in animal holding and procedure rooms?

• Unsealed porous concrete
• Carpet tiles
• Seamless, non-porous, chemical-resistant flooring
• Wooden planks

Correct Answer: Seamless, non-porous, chemical-resistant flooring

Q7. What is the recommended design principle to prevent cross-traffic of clean supplies and contaminated materials?

• Shared corridors for all movements
• One-way traffic flow with separate entry/exit routes
• Allow staff to carry contaminated items through clean rooms only at night
• Use the same doorway for supply delivery and carcass removal

Correct Answer: One-way traffic flow with separate entry/exit routes

Q8. Which support area should be located near animal holding rooms to reduce transport time and contamination risk?

• Feed and bedding storage
• Administrative offices
• Public restroom for visitors
• External delivery dock for unrelated goods

Correct Answer: Feed and bedding storage

Q9. In designing a procedure/surgery suite, which feature is most critical to maintain aseptic conditions?

• Large windows to increase natural light
• Dedicated HVAC with appropriate pressure control and HEPA filtration
• Open access to adjacent holding rooms
• Shared autoclave with general storage

Correct Answer: Dedicated HVAC with appropriate pressure control and HEPA filtration

Q10. For effective waste management in an animal facility layout, what is an essential design consideration?

• Keeping waste bins in animal rooms
• Providing clearly separated, secure routes for biohazardous waste removal
• Mixing biological and general waste to reduce pickup frequency
• Storing all waste near the administrative area

Correct Answer: Providing clearly separated, secure routes for biohazardous waste removal

Q11. Which regulatory or accreditation body provides guidance often referenced for laboratory animal facility design and management?

• FDA for cosmetics only
• CPCSEA/Institutional Animal Ethics Committee and international bodies like AAALAC
• Food Safety and Standards Authority
• ISO 9001 exclusively

Correct Answer: CPCSEA/Institutional Animal Ethics Committee and international bodies like AAALAC

Q12. What is the primary reason for locating cage wash and decontamination areas away from animal holding rooms?

• To save on plumbing costs
• To limit noise, humidity and aerosolized contaminants from reaching animals
• To make it easier for administrative supervision
• To allow visitors to view cleaning operations

Correct Answer: To limit noise, humidity and aerosolized contaminants from reaching animals

Q13. Which design element helps minimize stress and physiological variability in laboratory animals?

• Excessive bright, flickering lighting
• Loud mechanical equipment adjacent to cages
• Controlled lighting cycles, low noise, and environmental enrichment spaces
• Frequent unannounced visitor tours

Correct Answer: Controlled lighting cycles, low noise, and environmental enrichment spaces

Q14. In planning for emergency situations (fire, flood) within an animal facility, what layout consideration is most important?

• Single narrow exit to control evacuation speed
• Multiple, well-marked evacuation routes and safe animal transfer locations
• Storing flammable materials near holding rooms for quick access
• Relying solely on local fire department access without internal plans

Correct Answer: Multiple, well-marked evacuation routes and safe animal transfer locations

Q15. How should feed storage be planned in relation to pest control and hygiene?

• Store feed on the floor to save space
• Keep feed in sealed, elevated, pest-proof containers with HACCP-style monitoring
• Locate feed storage in the same room as waste bins
• Mix feed with bedding in a common storage area

Correct Answer: Keep feed in sealed, elevated, pest-proof containers with HACCP-style monitoring

Q16. Which factor determines whether an area should be under positive or negative air pressure?

• Aesthetic preference of facility managers
• The desired direction of air flow to protect animals or the environment from contaminants
• Cost of building materials only
• The color of wall paint

Correct Answer: The desired direction of air flow to protect animals or the environment from contaminants

Q17. For infectious agent containment in an animal facility (ABSL-2/3), what layout principle is essential?

• Shared HVAC between containment and non-containment areas
• Physical separation, dedicated HVAC, and controlled entry/exit with PPE zones
• Open-plan design to facilitate supervision
• Locating containment areas adjacent to public access points

Correct Answer: Physical separation, dedicated HVAC, and controlled entry/exit with PPE zones

Q18. Why is staff changing and showering room placement important in facility layout?

• It reduces staff morale
• It creates a buffer to prevent external contamination entering animal areas
• To allow staff to take breaks near animals
• To increase the number of doors in the facility

Correct Answer: It creates a buffer to prevent external contamination entering animal areas

Q19. What is an advantage of planning animal facility layout using adjacency diagrams and flow charts?

• They eliminate the need for HVAC design
• They help visualize and optimize functional relationships and reduce cross-contamination
• They replace the need for regulatory approvals
• They ensure maximum visitor visibility of animals

Correct Answer: They help visualize and optimize functional relationships and reduce cross-contamination

Q20. During renovation or expansion, which strategy best maintains animal welfare and research continuity?

• Conduct construction without notifying staff to avoid delays
• Phase work, provide temporary holding with equivalent standards, and coordinate with investigators
• Move all animals off-site without contingency planning
• Allow contractors unrestricted access to animal rooms for efficiency

Correct Answer: Phase work, provide temporary holding with equivalent standards, and coordinate with investigators

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