ALAT Facility Environment and Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal regulation establishes minimum standards for the handling, housing, and care of certain laboratory animals in the United States?
- Public Health Service (PHS) Policy
- Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
- Clean Air Act
Correct 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.
Question 2: A technician is asked to perform cage changes in a room housing germ-free mice. Which of the following procedures is MOST critical?
- Using colored cages to differentiate colonies
- Working inside a laminar flow hood or biological safety cabinet (Correct answer)
- Performing changes at the same time every day
- Increasing room temperature by 2°C during the change
Correct 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.
Question 3: What does the term 'macroenvironment' refer to in laboratory animal facility management?
- The environment inside the individual cage
- The outdoor environment surrounding the building
- The overall room environment in which cages are housed (Correct answer)
- The animal's internal physiological state
Correct 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.
Question 4: Sentinel animals in a rodent colony are used primarily to:
- Detect escape routes in the facility
- Monitor the colony for the presence of pathogens (Correct answer)
- Test new diets before introducing them to the colony
- Provide a reserve population for breeding
Correct 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.
Question 5: In a research facility, pest control measures must be designed to:
- Eliminate all insects from the outdoor areas adjacent to the building
- Control pests without compromising animal health or research integrity (Correct answer)
- Use only chemical pesticides approved for food processing facilities
- Prevent all animals from smelling outdoor air
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a 'squeeze cage' or 'transport box' in the context of facility management?
- Permanent housing for aggressive animals
- Safe restraint and transfer of animals between locations (Correct answer)
- A cage used exclusively for breeding pairs
- A quarantine unit for newly arrived animals
Correct 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.
Question 7: 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?
- Increased aggression between animals
- Reduced food consumption and potential heat stress (Correct answer)
- Improved reproductive performance
- Lower incidence of respiratory infections
Correct 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.
ALAT Facility Environment and Management 4
Which federal regulation establishes minimum standards for the handling, housing, and care of certain laboratory animals in the United States?