Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

How does a laminar flow cabinet protect the worker during cage changes?

1. By filtering the incoming air

2. By exhausting air out the front

3. By ensuring air does not exit out the front

4. By using UV light for sterilization

The correct answer is: By ensuring air does not exit out the front

A laminar flow cabinet is specifically designed to provide a controlled environment that minimizes exposure to potentially hazardous materials while ensuring that clean, filtered air is directed towards the operator. The key feature of a laminar flow cabinet is its ability to create a unidirectional flow of air, which helps in maintaining a clean working zone free from contaminants. The correct reason for how a laminar flow cabinet protects the worker during cage changes lies in ensuring that air does not exit out the front. This function is critical because it prevents contaminated air within the cabinet from escaping into the surrounding environment, thereby safeguarding the user from inhaling pathogens or allergens that may be present. The design directs the filtered air from HEPA filters in a smooth, laminar flow pattern, effectively creating a barrier between the potentially contaminated air inside the cabinet and the operator outside. While filtering incoming air is indeed a function of a laminar flow cabinet, the primary protective mechanism directly related to the worker’s safety during cage changes is the controlled air flow that prevents air from escaping. Other methods such as exhausting air out the front would compromise the cabinet's integrity and create an unhealthy work environment, while UV light, although useful for sterilization, does not provide direct protection to the worker during cage changes.