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 federal regulation establishes minimum standards for the handling, housing, and care of certain laboratory animals in the United States?
Answer: Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
The Animal Welfare Act, enforced by USDA/APHIS, establishes minimum standards for the care and use of regulated laboratory animals.
A technician is asked to perform cage changes in a room housing germ-free mice. Which of the following procedures is MOST critical?
Answer: Working inside a laminar flow hood or biological safety cabinet
Germ-free animals must be handled inside a BSC or laminar flow hood to prevent any microbial contamination.
What does the term 'macroenvironment' refer to in laboratory animal facility management?
Answer: The overall room environment in which cages are housed
The macroenvironment refers to the conditions within the animal room (temperature, humidity, lighting, noise) as opposed to the microenvironment inside the cage.
Sentinel animals in a rodent colony are used primarily to:
Answer: Monitor the colony for the presence of pathogens
Sentinel animals are exposed to soiled bedding from the colony and tested periodically to detect infectious agents that may be present.
In a research facility, pest control measures must be designed to:
Answer: Control pests without compromising animal health or research integrity
Integrated pest management (IPM) in research facilities must control pests while ensuring that methods used do not harm animals or interfere with research.
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a 'squeeze cage' or 'transport box' in the context of facility management?
Answer: Safe restraint and transfer of animals between locations
Squeeze cages and transport boxes are used to safely move and temporarily restrain animals during transfers, reducing stress and risk of escape.
A newly hired technician notices the animal room temperature is consistently 3°C above the target range for mice. Which effect is MOST likely if this is not corrected?
Answer: Reduced food consumption and potential heat stress
Sustained high temperatures cause heat stress in mice, resulting in reduced food/water intake, weight loss, and potentially death.