PulseNet shares what type of data?

• A. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns
• B. Whole genome sequencing
• C. Serotype
• D. Antibiotic resistance profiles

Answer: (A)

PulseNet shares standardized DNA fingerprint data in the form of PFGE patterns. PFGE, or Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis, generates a reproducible banding pattern from bacterial DNA that acts like a fingerprint for that isolate. Labs across the network upload these patterns to a common database, allowing epidemiologists to compare patterns from patients, foods, and environments and quickly spot clusters that point to a common source. While serotype and antibiotic resistance profiles contribute valuable context for characterizing isolates, the network’s shared data are the PFGE patterns because they provide a consistent, scalable way to assess genetic relatedness across many laboratories. Although whole genome sequencing is becoming more common, the traditional PulseNet data-sharing focus is the PFGE pattern.