Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Performing husbandry tasks in isolation areas late in the day is optimal for minimizing airborne pathogen spread for several reasons. First, environmental conditions such as air circulation and building activities often change throughout the day, and late-afternoon hours can offer more stable airflow patterns. During this time, fewer personnel may be moving through the facility compared to morning or lunchtime, reducing the risk of disturbing settled dust and pathogens.

Additionally, doing husbandry tasks later in the day can allow for proper ventilation systems to maintain clean air prior to the next workday, ensuring that any airborne pathogens generated during the cleaning process have time to settle before staff re-enter the space. It also enables staff to concentrate on minimizing disruptions that could lead to pathogen spread. Thus, this timing fosters a safer environment for maintaining the health and well-being of the animals housed in the isolation areas.