Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What document specifies minimum cage space requirements for laboratory animals?

1. The Animal Welfare Act

2. The Guide

3. ICU guidelines

4. The Lab Animal Handbook

The correct answer is: The Guide

The correct answer is that "The Guide" specifies minimum cage space requirements for laboratory animals. This document, formally known as "The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals," is produced by the National Research Council and provides comprehensive guidelines on the care and welfare of laboratory animals used in research, testing, and education. Within this guide, specific recommendations are made regarding the housing and space required for various species, taking into account factors such as the animal's size, behavior, and social needs. This guidance ensures that laboratory animals are kept in environments that promote their well-being and allow for natural behaviors, which is crucial for both ethical considerations and the validity of research results. While the Animal Welfare Act is a crucial piece of legislation that sets broad standards for the treatment of research animals, it does not detail specific minimum cage space requirements. Similarly, ICU guidelines and The Lab Animal Handbook are useful resources but do not specifically lay out the detailed requirements that The Guide does. Thus, The Guide serves as the authoritative source for these specific housing requirements.