Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

In which of the following situations would you use a sterilization procedure?

1. Before feeding

2. After use of surgical instruments

3. During routine cleaning

4. When changing bedding

The correct answer is: After use of surgical instruments

Using a sterilization procedure after the use of surgical instruments is essential to ensure that these tools are free from all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. Surgical instruments must be thoroughly sterilized between procedures to prevent the risk of infection and to maintain the health and safety of both animals and personnel. Proper sterilization is critical in a laboratory setting, where maintaining stringent hygiene standards is paramount to the success of research and the welfare of the animals involved. In contrast, while feeding, routine cleaning, and changing bedding are all important aspects of animal care and management, they do not typically require sterilization. Instead, these tasks may involve disinfection or cleaning processes that reduce microbial load but do not completely eliminate all microorganisms.