Facility Environment and Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Facility Environment and Management flashcards as text
Which of the following is an example of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice that addresses their natural burrowing behavior?
Answer: Adding nesting material such as cotton nestlets
Nesting material satisfies the innate burrowing and nesting instincts of mice, reducing stress and improving welfare.
What is the primary reason laboratory animal facilities use HEPA filters in their ventilation systems?
Answer: To remove particulates and pathogens from the air supply
HEPA filters capture ≥99.97% of particles ≥0.3 µm, including bacteria and spores, protecting animals from airborne pathogens.
A rodent facility experiences an unexplained increase in pup mortality. Which environmental factor should be investigated FIRST?
Answer: Temperature fluctuations in the breeding room
Temperature extremes, especially cold drafts or heat spikes, are a leading environmental cause of neonatal mortality in rodents.
Under current Guide recommendations, which of the following practices is acceptable for social species such as rabbits when housing is concerned?
Answer: Pair or group housing whenever scientifically and socially appropriate
The Guide emphasizes that social species should be housed in pairs or groups unless there is scientific or veterinary justification for single housing.
When performing a room changeover after removing one mouse strain and before introducing another, what step is ESSENTIAL to prevent cross-contamination?
Answer: Thorough cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces and equipment
Complete cleaning and disinfection eliminates residual pathogens, allergens, and biological material before a new animal group is introduced.
Which of the following BEST explains why laboratory animals should be protected from ultrasonic sound sources (e.g., certain computer monitors, plumbing)?
Answer: Rodents can hear ultrasonic frequencies and experience stress from them
Rodents communicate and perceive sounds in the ultrasonic range; chronic exposure to ultrasonic noise can cause significant physiological stress.
A facility manager wants to document that the animal room environment meets regulatory and accreditation standards. Which tool BEST supports this?
Answer: Continuous electronic environmental monitoring with logged data
Continuous electronic monitoring provides timestamped records of temperature, humidity, and other parameters, essential for compliance documentation.