Which testing method is commonly used to assess exposure to viral pathogens in laboratory animals?

Which testing method is commonly used to assess exposure to viral pathogens in laboratory animals?

• A. Microbial colony counts
• B. Gel electrophoresis
• C. ELISA
• D. All of the above

Answer: (C)

Detecting exposure to viral pathogens in laboratory animals relies on finding evidence of the animal’s immune response or the presence of viral components, and ELISA fits this purpose best. ELISA can detect antibodies against a virus in serum or detect viral antigens in samples, producing a measurable readout that reflects prior exposure or infection. It is sensitive, specific, and scalable for testing many animals, making it ideal for surveillance and colony health management. Microbial colony counts measure bacterial contamination and are not used to determine viral exposure in animals. Gel electrophoresis separates nucleic acids or proteins to study molecular characteristics, but it is not a routine method for assessing exposure to viruses in a population. Therefore, ELISA is the commonly used testing method for this purpose.

Detecting exposure to viral pathogens in laboratory animals relies on finding evidence of the animal’s immune response or the presence of viral components, and ELISA fits this purpose best. ELISA can detect antibodies against a virus in serum or detect viral antigens in samples, producing a measurable readout that reflects prior exposure or infection. It is sensitive, specific, and scalable for testing many animals, making it ideal for surveillance and colony health management. Microbial colony counts measure bacterial contamination and are not used to determine viral exposure in animals. Gel electrophoresis separates nucleic acids or proteins to study molecular characteristics, but it is not a routine method for assessing exposure to viruses in a population. Therefore, ELISA is the commonly used testing method for this purpose.