Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which piece of equipment is essential for ensuring effective environmental control in an animal facility?

1. Ventilation system

2. Animal scales

3. Incubator

4. Microscope

The correct answer is: Ventilation system

The ventilation system is crucial for maintaining effective environmental control in an animal facility. It helps regulate temperature, humidity, and airflow, which are vital for the health and wellbeing of the animals being housed. A well-designed ventilation system ensures that there is adequate exchange of air, removing harmful contaminants, excessive heat, and moisture, while providing fresh air. This system balances the needs of the animals with environmental sustainability and operational efficiency, helping to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and ensuring that animals are kept in a safe and healthy environment. In contrast, the other pieces of equipment mentioned serve more specialized functions: animal scales are primarily used for monitoring the weights of animals, incubators are designed for providing specific temperature and humidity conditions for various biological samples or embryos, and microscopes are used for observing microscopic structures, which does not directly contribute to environmental control.