Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of a fume hood?

1. To store chemicals safely

2. To provide ventilation and protect from chemical fumes

3. To sterilize laboratory equipment

4. To isolate bacteria from samples

The correct answer is: To provide ventilation and protect from chemical fumes

The primary purpose of a fume hood is to provide ventilation and protect users from chemical fumes. Fume hoods are designed to create a safe working environment by preventing the exposure of laboratory personnel to hazardous airborne substances. They achieve this by using a ventilation system that draws air in from the front of the hood, filtering it, and expelling it outside the building or through a filtration system. This ensures that any potentially harmful vapors, gases, or particulate matter generated during experiments or chemical handling are contained within the hood and do not contaminate the laboratory environment, thereby safeguarding the health and safety of the technician and others in the vicinity. In contrast, while certain types of laboratory equipment might store chemicals safely, fume hoods do not serve just as storage; they focus on ventilation. Sterilization of laboratory equipment involves different processes, typically involving heat or chemicals that kill microorganisms, which is not a function of a fume hood. Likewise, isolating bacteria from samples pertains to microbiological techniques that involve specific containment strategies, not the general ventilation purpose of fume hoods.