Animal Husbandry and Environment 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 Animal Husbandry and Environment flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of an 'acclimation period' for newly received laboratory animals?
Answer: To allow animals to recover from transport stress before use in studies
Acclimation allows animals to physiologically stabilize after the stress of shipping before being used in experiments, reducing confounding variables.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'dirty corridor / clean corridor' facility design?
Answer: To prevent cross-contamination by directing traffic flow from clean to dirty areas
The corridor separation system prevents contamination by ensuring personnel move from clean supply areas to dirty waste areas without backtracking.
A cage card for a mouse shows the strain, study number, and PI name but is missing the sex indicator. Why is this information critical?
Answer: Mixing sexes can lead to unintended breeding and compromise study validity
Unintended breeding from mixed-sex housing can invalidate studies, cause overcrowding, and harm neonates, making accurate sex identification on cage cards essential.
What is the recommended maximum number of adult mice per standard microisolator cage (approximately 75 in²) to meet space requirements under the Guide?
Answer: 5
The Guide recommends approximately 15 in² per adult mouse, so a 75 in² cage can appropriately house up to 5 adult mice.
Which method is used to verify that an autoclave has achieved adequate sterilization conditions for cage bedding?
Answer: Biological indicator using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores
Biological indicators using heat-resistant bacterial spores are the gold standard for confirming that autoclaves have achieved sterilization conditions.
What is the correct response when a technician discovers a rabbit with a body condition score of 1 out of 5 (severely emaciated)?
Answer: Notify the attending veterinarian immediately
A BCS of 1 indicates a critically ill or malnourished animal requiring immediate veterinary assessment and intervention.
Which of the following is a key advantage of individually ventilated cages (IVCs) over standard static microisolator cages?
Answer: Reduced frequency of required cage changes due to improved air exchange within the cage
IVCs provide filtered, high-volume air exchange directly inside each cage, which dilutes ammonia and allows extended cage-change intervals compared to static cages.