ALAT Facility Environment and Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a SECONDARY containment measure for infectious agents in an animal biosafety level 2 (ABSL-2) facility?
- The animal's own immune system
- Biological safety cabinets (BSCs)
- The animal room itself (physical structure) (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment worn by staff
Correct answer: The animal room itself (physical structure)
The animal room is considered secondary containment; primary containment includes the cage and BSC used during procedures.
Question 2: When decontaminating an animal room after an outbreak, which agent is considered effective against most bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens on hard non-porous surfaces?
- Isopropyl alcohol 70%
- Quaternary ammonium compounds
- Diluted bleach (sodium hypochlorite) (Correct answer)
- Distilled water with detergent
Correct answer: Diluted bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at appropriate dilutions is a broad-spectrum disinfectant effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi on hard surfaces.
Question 3: What is the recommended maximum noise level in animal holding rooms according to the Guide?
- 45 dB
- 55 dB
- 65 dB
- 85 dB (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 85 dB
The Guide recommends keeping noise levels below 85 dB to prevent auditory and physiological stress in laboratory animals.
Question 4: A vivarium receives a shipment of new animals. What is the standard practice before introducing them to existing colonies?
- House them immediately with existing animals to acclimate socially
- Quarantine and health-monitor them in a separate area (Correct answer)
- Administer prophylactic antibiotics for 48 hours
- Perform full necropsy on a subset before housing
Correct answer: Quarantine and health-monitor them in a separate area
Quarantine allows health monitoring and pathogen screening to prevent introduction of disease into established colonies.
Question 5: Which of the following environmental factors has the GREATEST direct influence on reproductive performance in laboratory rodents?
- Noise level
- Photoperiod (light cycle) (Correct answer)
- Bedding type
- Cage color
Correct answer: Photoperiod (light cycle)
Photoperiod strongly regulates reproductive hormones and cycles in rodents; irregular lighting disrupts breeding performance.
Question 6: In a barrier animal facility, the autoclave used to sterilize incoming supplies is BEST described as part of which system?
- Primary containment
- Secondary containment
- Tertiary containment
- Material transfer and decontamination (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Material transfer and decontamination
The autoclave is a key component of the material transfer and decontamination system that prevents introduction of pathogens through incoming supplies.
Question 7: Why is it important to monitor room temperature continuously rather than just checking it once daily in a rodent facility?
- Rodents are used to constant temperatures in the wild
- HVAC failures can cause rapid temperature swings that harm animals (Correct answer)
- Daily checks are required by IACUC regulations
- Continuous monitoring reduces the need for enrichment
Correct answer: HVAC failures can cause rapid temperature swings that harm animals
HVAC failures can cause rapid, dangerous temperature fluctuations; continuous monitoring enables early detection and corrective action.
ALAT Facility Environment and Management 3
Which of the following is a SECONDARY containment measure for infectious agents in an animal biosafety level 2 (ABSL-2) facility?