Assessment – SANS 10386 – ALL MODULES – Scientific Veterinary Consulting

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the care and use of animals for scientific purposes is INCORRECT?

Stray and feral animals of domestic species should generally not be used for scientific purposes
The regulations of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act define which types of animal facilities should be registered with the South African Veterinary Council
Cats and rats should generally not be housed in the same room within sight, smell or sound of one another
Animals should generally not be taken from the wild for use in scientific procedures in animal facilities
When new animals arrive at an animal facility after transport, they should be acclimatised to the new facility for at least two days, before being used in procedures

Investigators should ensure that the welfare of the animals in their AEC-approved studies or activities is monitored at least how often?

Once per day
Four times per day
Once every two days
Once per week
Twice per week

In which year was the current version of the SANS 10386 published?

2008
2019
2023
2021
2015

Which ONE of the following statements regarding professional responsibilities is CORRECT?

The AEC is not required to review, approve and monitor the activities and procedures performed by animal caretakers
Animal caretakers are required to work under supervision until they have read the relevant SOPs
Facility managers are not required to ensure that staff follow veterinary advice regarding animal care and husbandry
Facility managers are not required to report to the AEC when animals die in a facility, before experiments have started
Attending veterinarians are required to have access to all animals in breeding, holding and experimental facilities

Who should have the ultimate decision-making ability for when to euthanise an animal in suffering or distress?

Animal caretaker
Facility manager
Attending veterinarian
Principal investigator
AEC chairperson

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the use of traps for wildlife is MOST CORRECT?

The main ethical concern is for the wellbeing of the target species, while the wellbeing of non-target species (bycatch) is of lesser concern
Traps should be checked at least once per week, to ensure the wellbeing of captured target species
Traps should be checked at least once per week, to ensure the wellbeing of captured non-target species (bycatch)
When the AEC is concerned about traps, it may require the research team to submit regular (e.g., weekly) reports to the AEC on animal wellbeing
It is advisable to use wet pitfall traps to capture vertebrate animals as bycatch

From which ONE of the following time-points do investigators have personal responsibility for all matters that relate to the wellbeing of the animals that they use?

When the animal is born
When the animal is issued to the study or activity
When the animal is weaned or becomes capable of independent feeding
When the animal is subjected to the first invasive or painful procedure
When the animal reaches maturity and is capable of breeding

For which ONE of the following species does the SANS 10386 standard NOT define species-specific minimum housing requirements?

Chimpanzees
Dogs
Chickens
Rats
Rabbits

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the SANS 10386 is INCORRECT?

Fish, frogs, crocodiles, lizards, birds, bats, mice, rats and cats are included in the definition of "animals", therefore the SANS 10386 requirements apply to them
The SANS 10386 requires that researchers should submit proposals to use all invertebrates (including insects, worms, ticks and spiders) for consideration by Animal Ethics Committees
The octopus, crab, squid, lobster (crayfish, kreef) and prawn are included in the definition of "animals", therefore the SANS 10386 requirements apply to them
The SANS 10386 requires Animal Ethics Committee approval to use all animals and animal tissues for scientific purposes, including samples obtained from live animals, roadkill, museum specimens, and dead animals collected from nature
The SANS 10386 requires Animal Ethics Committee approval for fish that are obtained from saltwater (e.g., oceans), freshwater (e.g., rivers) and farm dams

Which ONE of the following lists of animal species, should be acquired directly from (or originate from) a breeding establishment that maintains conditions that are consistent with the SANS 10386 standard?

Mice, rats and dogs
Sheep, goats and pigs
Ostriches, fish and wildlife
Rabbits, frogs and ostriches
Sheep, alpacas and cats

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the concept of animal “sentience” is CORRECT?

“Sentience” refers to an animal's relative level of intelligence
“Sentience” refers to whether an animal is a vertebrate (i.e., with a backbone/spine) or an invertebrate (i.e., without a backbone/spine)
“Sentience” refers to an animal's ability to reason or think
“Sentience” refers to an animal's ability to feel or experience pleasures (positive affective states) and suffering (negative affective states)
“Sentience” refers to an animal’s state of mental and physical wellbeing

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the SANS 10386 is INCORRECT?

Animal Ethics Committee approval is required for the use of animals in research or testing
Animal Ethics Committee approval is required for the use of animals in teaching or training, including to teach non-invasive methods (e.g., behavioural studies)
Animal Ethics Committee approval is required for the use of animals for scientific purposes, including agricultural animals, veterinary patients, and farm animals
Animal Ethics Committee approval is required for the use of animals for scientific purposes in environmental or conservation studies
Animal Ethics Committee approval is required for wildlife studies where animals are captured or restrained, but not for purely observational wildlife studies

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the use of animals for teaching in schools is CORRECT?

AEC approval is not required when animals are used for educational purposes in primary schools
AEC approval is not required when animals are used for teaching purposes in secondary schools
AEC approval is required before animals may be released to school pupils to take the animals home over weekends
AEC membership for schools does not need to include both a veterinarian and an independent animal welfare representative
AEC decisions about the ethical acceptability of teaching activities can be overruled by the school principal

Which ONE of the following activities does NOT require AEC approval in schools, according to SANS 10386?

Prawns caught and released in a local estuary, to demonstrate the eggs attached to the external abdomens of females
Hamsters kept in good quality enclosures on grass at the school, to observe the care of the young by the mothers
Canaries kept in the school garden in large cages, so that birdsong can create a relaxing environment during breaks
Dogs brought in from a local animal welfare shelter, so that children can learn about dog behaviour
Frogs kept in aquaria with enriched environments, to teach biology students about frog reproduction

A person must be registered or authorised with which ONE of the following national authorities, in order to be allowed to legally perform veterinary or para-veterinary procedures on animals?

SAVC
SACNASP
HPCSA
NHREC
Department of Agriculture

Which ONE of the following is one of the Four Rs (“4Rs”), as defined in the SANS 10386?

Respect
Regulations
Rights
Responsibility
Reproducibility

Which ONE of the following options is NOT an example of a “Replacement” of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes?

Alternatives that avoid animal use
New Approach Methodologies
Cell or tissue culture models
Computer simulations
Replacing bandages frequently

Which ONE of the following options is an example of a “Replacement” of the use of animals?

Using the minimum number of animals that are needed for a scientific study
Limiting the overall amount of cumulative animal suffering in a scientific study
Using cell culture models or computer simulations instead of using live animals
Doing a statistical calculation (power analysis) to estimate the number of animals (sample size) needed for a specific study
Ensuring that all of the people who capture, handle or restrain animals, or perform procedures on animals, are competent in doing so

Which ONE of the following options is NOT an example of a “Refinement” of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes?

Appropriate environmental enrichment for the animal species and developmental stage
Physically separating the animal housing areas and the areas where procedures are performed
Monitoring the wellbeing of animals more than once per day when adverse events are likely
Specifying clear intervention points and humane endpoints to minimise cumulative harms
Ensuring that all required Section 20 permits have been obtained for wildlife studies

Which ONE of the following options is NOT an example of a “Refinement” in the care and use of animals?

Ensuring that all of the people who capture, handle, or restrain animals, have been formally assessed and confirmed to be competent in these functions
Keeping animals in confinement in conditions that are as similar as possible to their natural environments
Restraining or performing procedures on animals less frequently
Keeping animals in compatible groups (for social species), rather than keeping animals in isolation
Using tissue culture to test whether a compound is toxic, before testing the compound on live animals, so that only the compounds that are not significantly toxic in tissue culture will as the next step be tested on live animals

Which ONE of the following options is NOT an example of a “Reduction” of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes?

Calculating the number of animals that are required by statistical power calculations
Improving the efficiency of ethical review by decreasing the time used by the Animal Ethics Committee
Sharing voucher specimens and samples of animal-origin with other scientific groups
Adjusting breeding programmes to match the number of offspring with scientific needs
Publishing negative results of animal studies so that other scientists do not unnecessarily repeat the studies

Which ONE of the following options is an example of a “Reduction” in the use of animals?

Drawing the minimum volume of blood that is needed
Using the minimum number of animals that are needed to produce valid results
Injecting an animal only once, instead of multiple times
Using euthanasia methods that cause the minimum amount of distress
Ensuring that all people who work with animals understand their responsibilities

Which ONE of the following entities is the publisher of the SANS 10386?

South African Bureau of Standards
National Research Foundation
South African Medical Research Council
National Department of Health
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Which ONE of the following is the MOST CORRECT method for determining the number of animals (sample size) in a hypothesis-testing study?

Consult a statistician to perform a statistical power calculation, before the study is initiated
Do a literature review of sample sizes used in comparable peer-reviewed studies, and use the median
Do a literature review of sample sizes used in comparable peer-reviewed studies, and use the average
Consult a statistician to perform a statistical power calculation, while the study is being performed
Consult a statistician to perform a statistical power calculation, after the study has been completed

Which ONE of the following persons has ultimate responsibility for the care and use of animals in an AEC-approved scientific project or activity?

Researchers
Teachers
Principal Investigator
Animal Caretaker
Chairperson of the Animal Ethics Committee

In which ONE of the following cases does the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC)’s ethical guidelines apply to animal care and use?

Agricultural research using animals
Veterinary research using animals
Human health research using animals
Wildlife research using animals
Using animals to produce wool

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the breeding of a new animal line is CORRECT?

The creation of a new animal line is a scientific procedure for which prior AEC approval is required
The creation of a new animal line is acceptable if an vitro model can be used to achieve the study’s aims
A new animal line may be used to generate animals for projects as soon as the new animal line has been established in the breeding facility
The creation of clones does not establish a new genetic line of animal, so AEC approval is not required for this purpose
The welfare of newly created animal lines should be monitored at least twice per day

Which ONE of the following statements regarding standards for animal research is CORRECT?

An Animal Ethics Committee may not require higher standards than those defined by SANS 10386
An Animal Ethics Committee may not have additional requirements to those defined by SANS 10386
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) animal health code does not apply to animal research
Laws and regulations may not establish additional requirements to those defined by the SANS 10386
Current best practices should be followed when they represent higher standards than the SANS 10386

Which ONE of the following is NOT a South African law that investigators should comply with?

Animals Protection Act
Animal Health Act
Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act
Medicines and Related Substances Control Act
Animals in Scientific Procedures Act

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the responsibilities of investigators is INCORRECT?

When unanticipated animal suffering occurs, one should follow the relevant AEC SOP, notify the AEC, alleviate suffering rapidly, and prioritise animal welfare over reaching the planned scientific endpoint for the animal or completing the study
Changes to AEC-approved studies or activities should only be made after an amendment request has been submitted to the AEC, and written authorisation has been obtained from the AEC for implementing the change
When a humane endpoint is reached, but the study is close to completion, it is acceptable not to immediately implement the humane endpoint, but only if animal welfare is being monitored more frequently by competent personnel
The principal investigator should ensure that all persons involved in a project are aware of and accept their roles and responsibilities, as defined in the AEC-approved protocol, institutional policies, the SANS 10386 and relevant laws
Pilot studies should be included in project design when the potential impact on animal wellbeing cannot be predicted on the basis of available evidence, to allow staged assessment of the impact on animal wellbeing and the development of strategies to avoid or minimise any adverse impact

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the SANS 10386 is CORRECT?

The standard includes conducting research on prawns and crabs
The document is published by the Department of Agriculture
The currently valid version of the document is the 2008 edition
The document establishes the maximum standards for animal care and use
The standard applies to the training of guide dogs for blind people

Which ONE of the following statements regarding international animal studies is CORRECT?

Research may be performed in the Republic of South Africa, based on AEC approval that has been obtained from a properly constituted and functioning AEC in another country
Studies performed by South African investigators in other countries do not have to comply with the governing principles of SANS 10386, as long as all activities are legally compliant in the other country
When studies are performed by South African investigators in animal facilities in other countries, projects at those facilities do not need to comply with the principles of SANS 10386, as long as all activities are legally compliant in the other country
When studies are performed by South African investigators in other countries, and valid AEC approval has been obtained from an AEC in the other country, then additional approval is not also required from the investigator’s South African AEC
When studies are performed by South African investigators in other countries, the South African AEC must ensure that animal care and use is adequately monitored in the other country, and may appoint an agent to inspect on its behalf

Which ONE of the following statements regarding collaborative animal research studies, performed by members of two (2) institutions, is INCORRECT?

Investigators must notify the AEC of their own institution when they are involved in animal studies at another institution
Investigators must notify the AEC of their own institution when they use samples or tissues from animal studies performed at another institution
Investigators must notify the AEC of their own institution when they are named in the protocol application to the AEC at another institution
As a general principle, each AEC is responsible for approval and monitoring of animal care and use that occurs at its own institution
A project may start once one of the AECs has approved the involvement of the members of both institutions, as long as the second AEC will also approve the study in due course

Which ONE of the following statements regarding collaborative animal research studies, performed by institution A in the facilities of Institution B, is CORRECT?

The veterinarian of Institution A may inspect the animal facilities of Institution B at any time
The AEC of Institution A may inspect the animal facilities of Institution B at any time
The AEC of institution A may suspend the collaborative animal research activities at institution B whenever non-compliance is suspected
The veterinarian of Institution A may order the euthanasia of animals involved in collaborative research activities at institution B at any time
Details about inspection authority, veterinary authority, and non-compliance, should be formalised in agreements between institutions

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the responsibilities of institutions is CORRECT?

Institutions are not responsible for the legal compliance and registration of their animal facilities, laboratories, aquaria, study sites, or farms
Institutions are not responsible for appointing an Institutional Official, who bears ultimate responsibility for the animal care and use program
Institutions are not responsible to ensure the effective operation of the AEC, to fund AEC training, or to provide the AEC with facilities and staff
Institutions are responsible to ensure that all personnel involved in the care and use of animals receive appropriate training and understand their responsibilities as defined in the SANS 10386
Institutions are not responsible to ensure that personnel who perform veterinary or para-veterinary procedures or functions are registered or authorised by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

Institutional culture does NOT ultimately affect which ONE of the following?

The mental-emotional wellbeing of the people who care for the animals
What is considered morally right to do
Whether laws apply to the institution’s care and use of animals
What is considered ethically justifiable
The wellbeing of the animals being used for scientific purposes

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the use of privately-owned animals for scientific purposes is CORRECT?

The informed consent process effectively replaces the requirement for AEC approval of a study, since the legal owner has already given formal approval for their animal to be included in the study
The informed consent form should include both the harms (risks) and the benefits of a study, but this does not replace the requirement for a formal harm-benefit analysis to also be performed for the study
When farm animals are used in studies, informed consent can be provided by a farmer’s neighbour, if the farmer who is the owner is not available at the time of performing the study
In cases where an owner has given informed consent by legally signing the consent form, they cannot remove their animal from the study again before the study has been completed
Informed consent forms should be written in a style of language that is similar to the style of language that one would expect in the peer-reviewed publication that emanates from the study

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the general requirement for the housing and husbandry of animals in facilities is MOST CORRECT?

Bedding materials or sleeping structures should always be provided, including nesting materials or structures for breeding animals
The AEC is not required to approve solitary housing for all animals that are singly housed
The welfare of animals should be checked at least once per week by a SAVC-registered professional or by a competent person under their supervision
It is acceptable to withhold environmental enrichment when the AEC has not specifically approved this in all cases
In addition to routine welfare monitoring, animals in prolonged confinement or restraint should be regularly assessed by a veterinarian or a qualified member of the research team

Which ONE of the following is NOT a governing principle for ethical review, as defined in the SANS 10386?

A judgement as to whether the use of animals is ethically acceptable, shall balance whether the potential negative effects on animal wellbeing, is justified by the potential benefits of the activity
High standards of scientific integrity shall always be applied
The obligation to respect and preserve the dignity of animals shall always prevail
Animal ethics approval shall be obtained as soon as possible after a study has been initiated
Animals shall only be used for scientific purposes when it is justified

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the governing principles of the SANS 10386 is INCORRECT?

Respect for animals should form the foundation of all decisions and actions of all people involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
The harm-benefit analysis should form an integral part of the formal assessment as to whether a proposed use of animals can be considered ethically acceptable
The wellbeing of animals shall be supported through all stages of their care and use, and should be considered in terms of their cumulative lifetime experience
High standards of scientific integrity shall be maintained by ensuring that animals are only used in studies that are well-justified with significant scientific merit, are feasible, well-designed and scientifically valid, carefully conducted so that there is a reasonable expectation that the aims of the project will be achieved, and only when alternatives (i.e. non-animal replacements) are not available
Registration of all Animal Ethics Committees with the national regulatory body (NHREC) is essential to ensure that the composition, functioning, quality of ethical review, and oversight by the Committee meets the minimum standards of SANS 10386

Which ONE of the following is one of the Four Rs (“4Rs”), as defined in the SANS 10386?

Regulations
Reliability
Refinement
Reuse
Reproducibility

Which ONE of the following types of reports should be submitted by the principal investigator once per year for all AEC-approved studies and activities?

Final report to the Institutional Official
Annual report to the Institutional Official
Unscheduled adverse events report to the AEC
Annual report to the AEC
Incidents and deviations report to the AEC

Which ONE of the following is NOT a general requirement for an animal facility?

The number and competence of staff members should ensure that the physiological and behavioural needs of animals are maintained at all times
The storage of flammable and controlled substances should comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act
Clean and dirty functions should ideally be separated, with flow paths in one direction from the clean to dirty areas
Procedure areas should ideally be separated well away from the animal holding areas
Anaesthetic machines should always be available for use in emergencies

Which ONE of the following statements regarding accessing an external AEC is INCORRECT?

An investigator without an AEC, should obtain approval from an external AEC before they use cheetahs for wildlife research
A private company that does not have its own AEC, should obtain approval from an external AEC before its personnel use mice for testing
A university which does not have its own AEC, should obtain approval from an external AEC before its lecturers use frogs for dissection in practicals
An institution which does not have its own AEC, but uses the NHREC-registered AEC of a local university, does not need to have its own policy on animal use
An investigator from an institution with an AEC, who does animal research at another institution, should obtain AEC approval from both institutions

Which ONE of the following is NOT a general principle of euthanasia?

Use a method that produces rapid loss of consciousness
Use a method that limits the amount of fear, pain or distress
Use the minimum amount of restraint possible
Euthanase in an area where other animals can see the procedure
Death should be confirmed before disposal of the animal, fetus or embryo

Which ONE of the following statements regarding wildlife is INCORRECT?

The term ‘wildlife’ includes indigenous and exotic animals that are not considered to be farm animals or domestic animals, and includes feral animals and vertebrate ‘pests’
The term ‘wildlife’ includes both free-living animals, and those captured from free-living populations
Wildlife studies that involve animal capture and procedures require AEC approval, while purely observational wildlife studies do not require AEC approval
In addition to the SANS 10386, the transport of some wildlife species may also require compliance with other SANS standards
The ethical analysis of wildlife studies should take into consideration the study’s potential harmful impacts on the environment

Which ONE of the following statements regarding endpoints and intervention points is CORRECT?

The experimental endpoint is the earliest time-point in a study when an animal should be euthanased due to suffering
Intervention points are often defined at 7, 14 or 28 days after a study has started
Death or near-death as endpoints are generally considered to be ethically acceptable approaches
Humane endpoints should be applied irrespective of whether the study’s scientific aims have been achieved
Endpoints should generally be as late as possible in a study, to ensure that valid scientific data is obtained

Which ONE of the following personnel do NOT have to be adequately educated and trained before they perform the following tasks, according to SANS 10386?

Workers on a university farm who transport lambs from a paddock to an area where they will be used to demonstrate routine procedures to agricultural students
Students who attend an institutional training course on the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
Senior scientists who design research projects on fish, but who will not be involved in any animal capture or procedures themselves
Postgraduate students who set camera traps in a nature reserve to monitor the movement patterns of small mammals
Temporary staff members who provide food and water for rats in a research animal facility for short periods over weekends only

Which ONE of the following statements regarding education and training to perform procedures on animals is INCORRECT?

Persons who perform veterinary or para-veterinary procedures on animals, must be registered with or authorised by the South African Veterinary Council to do so legally
An investigator who has performed procedures on animals for many years and published in peer-reviewed journals, is per definition competent in performing the procedures
The supervisor remains responsible for the correct performance of the task, until training has been completed and competence has been formally confirmed
Persons who assess competence in procedures, should observe and evaluate the trainee performing the actual procedures, to assess their practical competence
Once competence in a procedure has been confirmed, the person performing the procedure should be observed from time to time, to ensure they remain competent

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the education and training of AEC members is INCORRECT?

AEC members should receive training in the SANS 10386
AEC members should receive induction training when joining an AEC
AEC members should receive a recommended duration of 30 to 40 hours of training
AEC members should receive continuing education training while serving on an AEC
AEC members should receive training that delivers competence in ethical review

Which ONE of the following statements regarding procedures on animals is INCORRECT?

Changing the DNA of animals (including their sperm, eggs or embryos), requires AEC approval
Possible provisions for animals at the end of their scientific use, may include rehoming, release to their normal habitat, reuse, or euthanasia
When procedures that affect fetuses compromise their survival after birth, or cause untreatable pain or distress, they should be euthanased before or immediately after birth
Unless there is evidence to the contrary, it should be assumed that fetuses have similar requirements for anaesthesia and analgesia as adult animals
It is generally considered acceptable to use death as an endpoint for toxicology studies

Which ONE of the following statements regarding animal wellbeing is INCORRECT?

One should assume that conditions that cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm in humans, also cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm in animals
When considering an animal’s wellbeing, one should consider the animal's cumulative lifetime experience, i.e., from the start of the experiment or scientific activity, until the animal's death
Wellbeing is characterised by a positive mental state, having positive experiences, the ability to express normal behaviours, and the ability to cope with stressful situations
Animals should generally be acclimatised for at least five days in the same housing or holding conditions as the experiment, before they are used in the experiment
When pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm are expected or observed, animal wellbeing must be monitored at least twice per day

Which ONE of the following statements regarding monitoring the wellbeing of animals is CORRECT?

Records of wellbeing monitoring are confidential and may only be accessed by the principal investigator and co-investigators in a study or activity
The AEC does not have the authority to examine the records of wellbeing monitoring, unless there is an adverse event or complaint about the study
The criteria to be used to assess animal wellbeing, and what action is required when problems occur, should be defined for each study or activity
Post mortem examinations are not required when animals die or are euthanised due to unexpected adverse events or compromised wellbeing
When adverse events occur, the focus should be on ensuring that the study can still be completed, rather than focusing on rapidly alleviating suffering

Which ONE of the following statements regarding performing procedures on animals is MOST CORRECT?

Persons may perform animal procedures if they have relevant post-graduate qualifications
Persons may perform animal procedures if they have been involved in studies for 3 years or longer
Persons may perform animal procedures if they have previously performed the procedures in studies that have been published in peer-reviewed journals
Persons may perform animal procedures if they are post-graduate students, university lecturers or professors
Persons may perform animal procedures if they have been confirmed competent in the procedures

Which ONE of the following topics is NOT included as an Annex in the SANS 10386?

Example of an agreement between the AECs of two or more institutions, to formalise responsibilities when conducting collaborative animal research
Examples of an AEC application form and annual report form
Details on the genetic and microbiological status of animals
Example of an AEC animal welfare incident report form
Details of pain management and humane endpoints

Which ONE of the following is NOT a key component of the definition of animal “wellbeing” as defined in the SANS 10386:2021?

An animal that never has any negative experiences
An animal with positive experiences
An animal in a positive mental state
An animal able to express natural behaviours for the species and age
An animal able to respond to and cope with potentially challenging conditions

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the use of analgesia (painkillers) in animals is MOST CORRECT?

Many experimental animal species cannot feel significant pain, so do not usually require any painkillers for procedures
Many experimental animal species only feel pain for a short while, so only a single dose of painkiller is usually needed
The best way to determine if painkillers are needed, is to ask people who have previously performed the procedure if they used painkillers
The use of painkillers in experimental animals should at least be similar to their use in modern veterinary or medical practice
It is not appropriate to assume that conditions that cause pain in humans also cause pain in experimental animals

Who is responsible to ensure that there is sufficient funding available for the required induction training and continuing education of all AEC members?

The AEC chairperson
The institutional official
The institutional veterinarian
The legally-trained AEC member
The director of the animal facilities

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the review of the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) functioning is INCORRECT?

The AEC’s functioning should be reviewed at least once per year
The panel who perform the annual review should include at least the AEC chairperson, a senior institutional official, and one external person
The independent external review of the operation of institutions should be conducted at least every 4 years
The independent external review should consider whether the AEC delivers effective oversight of animal care and use, the adequacy of institutional support, and the standards of animal welfare and facilities
The independent external review is not required for AECs that are registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC)

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the monitoring functions of Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) is INCORRECT?

Animal facilities and study sites should regularly report to the AEC on the details of animals bred, animals used, and challenges encountered
All categories of AEC members should participate in the inspections of animal facilities and study sites
AECs should monitor activities at early study phases if they are likely to cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm
AECs should formally review all AEC-approved studies and activities on at least an annual basis, and should consider their continued approval, modification, or suspension on this review
It is not acceptable for AECs to appoint independent assessors (auditors) to inspect distant study sites, as delegation of the AEC’s authority for post-approval monitoring

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the Category D members on an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is INCORRECT?

The Category D members should be viewed by the wider national community as bringing a completely independent view to the AEC
Persons who are professionally closely associated with the institution, are not deemed suitable as Category D members
Secretaries or administrative staff may be suitable as Category D members
Category D member should not currently or have previously conducted scientific studies or teaching activities using animals
At universities, academic staff from departments not including life sciences, biological sciences, or health sciences may be suitable as Category D members

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the membership of an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is CORRECT?

The independent animal welfare representatives and community members, together, should represent at least one-third of the AEC members
The AEC chairperson should ideally be a veterinarian, an experienced animal researcher, or the head of the research animal facilities
The animal researchers who serve as AEC members are known as the Category A members
Persons who are responsible for the routine care of animals are required to serve as Category C members
A single veterinarian can serve as both a Category A and Category C member, as long as they appropriately declare all conflicts of interest

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the governance of Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) is CORRECT?

All institutions must establish their own AEC, and may not access an external AEC
All South African AECs must be registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC)
The AEC does not have the authority to suspend or withdraw approval for a scientific study – only the institutional official has this authority
The Terms of Reference of the AEC should be publicly available
Institutions do not have to provide AEC members with legal protection (indemnity) against personal liability for decisions made in good faith

Which ONE of the following statements regarding Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) functioning is INCORRECT?

An international AEC may be the approving authority for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in the Republic of South Africa
Scientific activities that use animals may only start after formal written approval has been obtained from the relevant AEC
Changes to an AEC-approved protocol may only be implemented after obtaining formal approval of the amendment application by the AEC
The AEC should ensure 4Rs implementation and perform a harm-benefit analysis in all cases where animals are used for scientific purposes
AECs should keep relevant records for a minimum of five (5) years

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the Executive Committee (Exco) of the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is CORRECT?

All AECs should appoint an Exco
The Exco should meet at least four times per year
The Exco’s decisions should be reviewed at the next quorate AEC meeting
The Exco should define which types of amendments it may approve
The Exco should define which types of research may undergo expedited review

Which ONE of the following statements regarding decision-making on an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is CORRECT?

Decisions should routinely be made by a show of hands, to see which members are in favour of, and which are against, a certain outcome
The committee can make valid decisions as long as the chairperson, a veterinarian, and at least one independent animal welfare representative are present
While decision-making should generally be by reaching consensus, the final harm-benefit analysis should ideally be voted on to ensure fairness
If a quorum cannot be achieved in a meeting, the protocols for review should be emailed to the AEC members, to request an electronic vote
During voting, the chairperson does not usually have a vote, although in cases of a tie across categories, the chairperson has a deciding vote

Who is primarily responsible to apply for and obtain AEC approval for the animal facility’s SOPs for general animal husbandry and care?

Animal caretaker
Facility manager
Attending veterinarian
Principal investigator
AEC chairperson

Which ONE of the following activities does NOT require AEC approval?

Placing cameras in private nature reserves to identify the movement of wild mice (‘camera traps’) for a PhD project
Plucking small feathers from birds caught in a net for an MSc project in the Kruger National Park
Using sheep to teach agricultural students how to perform minor procedures on animals on the university’s farm
A SACNASP-registered professional teaching BSc students how to measure the body-length of frogs in an urban area
A SAVC-registered veterinarian collecting blood from a 6-year old cow as part of routine veterinary care on a privately-owned farm

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the 4Rs (Four Rs) is INCORRECT?

Wildlife interaction studies of predator-prey relationships that use smells of a predator, rather than live predators, is a Refinement in terms of the prey’s experience
Wildlife interaction studies of predator-prey relationships that use the lowest number of prey animals, while yielding valid results, is a Reduction
Collecting hair plucks from animals, rather than collecting blood samples from a vein, is a Refinement
Collecting voucher specimens of endangered species, for display in properly curated museums or collections, is a Refinement
When an AEC considers the harmful environmental impacts of a wildlife study as part of the ethical evaluation, is an example of Responsibility

Which ONE of the following statements regarding the care and use of farm animals is MOST CORRECT?

Farms that are managed by institutions do not generally need to comply with ethical standards and scientific animal husbandry practices
The AEC is not required to review and approve standard operating procedures for routine animal management practices on farms
Farms should submit an annual report to the AEC that details the number of all animals that are maintained and the purposes for which they are kept
AEC approval is not generally required for teaching routine animal husbandry procedures (e.g., tail docking, beak trimming, etc.) to students
The AEC does not have the authority to inspect records on farms that detail the number of times that each animal has been used in procedures

Assessment – SANS 10386 – ALL MODULES

Bert.Mohr 9 September 2024

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