What is the purpose of post-mortem sample collection in necropsy?

• A. To determine fur color.
• B. To determine cause of death or evaluate organ pathology for research and welfare.
• C. To test vaccine efficacy only.
• D. To measure body weight only.

Answer: (B)

In necropsy, post-mortem samples are collected to determine the cause of death and to evaluate how the organs were affected. This sample collection lets you study tissue changes with histology, identify infections with microbiology, detect toxic effects or drug residues with chemistry/toxicology, and use molecular methods to look for pathogens or gene expression patterns. Together, these analyses reveal disease processes, systemic impacts, and any issues with the animal’s care or the experimental setup, which helps improve welfare and guide future study design.

Fur color isn’t a measure of disease or death that necropsy sampling typically targets, and body weight, while sometimes noted, isn’t the purpose of post-mortem sampling. Vaccine efficacy is assessed through a broader set of data (immune responses, survival, challenge outcomes), with post-mortem sampling serving as a tool to understand pathology rather than the sole aim.