ALAT - Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician Animal Husbandry and Care Questions and Answers

Question 1

An ALAT performing daily health checks notices that a cage of mice has moderately wet bedding and the water bottle is nearly empty.
The animals appear active and healthy.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Immediately provide a full water bottle, replace the wet bedding, and report the findings to a supervisor or veterinary technician.

Answer

Note the observation in the room log and plan to change the cage during the next scheduled change-out.

Answer

Separate the mice into new cages to better monitor their individual water consumption.

Answer

Remove the food from the cage to prevent the mice from eating while potentially dehydrated.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of providing environmental enrichment to laboratory animals?

Accepted Answer

To allow animals to perform species-specific behaviors, reducing stress and promoting well-being.

Answer

To increase the complexity of the experiment for more robust data.

Answer

To make the animal enclosures easier to clean and sanitize.

Answer

To reduce the overall cost of animal care by using cheaper materials.

Question 3

Which of the following is considered a method for permanent, individual identification of a mouse?

Accepted Answer

Subcutaneous microchip transponder.

Answer

Cage card labeling.

Answer

Fur marking with a non-toxic dye.

Answer

Recording the animal's weight.

Question 4

The light cycle in an animal facility, commonly set to a 12:12 or 14:10 ratio, is essential for regulating what?

Accepted Answer

The animals' circadian rhythms and reproductive physiology.

Answer

The room's temperature and humidity.

Answer

The work schedules for the animal care staff.

Answer

The growth rate of microorganisms in the environment.

Question 5

While preparing to sanitize a rack of cages, an ALAT notices that the prepared disinfectant solution is cloudy, which is contrary to the SOP that states it should be a clear solution. What is the correct course of action?

Accepted Answer

Discard the solution, report the issue to the supervisor, and prepare a new batch according to the SOP.

Answer

Add more water to the solution until it becomes clear and then proceed with sanitation.

Answer

Use the solution as-is but leave it on the cages for double the recommended contact time.

Answer

Find a different type of disinfectant in the storage room to use instead.

Question 6

Within an individually ventilated cage (IVC) rack system, which of the following parameters is directly controlled by the rack's air handling unit for each cage?

Accepted Answer

The rate of air changes per hour (ACH).

Answer

In-cage ammonia levels.

Answer

The number of animals per cage.

Answer

The amount of bedding in the cage.

An ALAT performing daily health checks notices that a cage of mice has moderately wet bedding and the water bottle is nearly empty.The animals appear active and healthy.What is the most appropriate immediate action?

An ALAT performing daily health checks notices that a cage of mice has moderately wet bedding and the water bottle is nearly empty.
The animals appear active and healthy.
What is the most appropriate immediate action?