Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

To whom is the Animal Welfare Assurance of Compliance submitted?

1. Office of laboratory animal management

2. Office of laboratory standards

3. Office of laboratory animal welfare

4. Office of animal care compliance

The correct answer is: Office of laboratory animal welfare

The Animal Welfare Assurance of Compliance is submitted to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). This office, which operates under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is responsible for ensuring that institutions comply with the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The purpose of the assurance is to confirm that the institution meets specific ethical and legal standards for the care and use of animals in research, teaching, and testing, as mandated by federal laws and guidelines. This compliance assurance is critical because it demonstrates an institution's commitment to the humane treatment of laboratory animals, as well as adherence to ethical guidelines necessary for conducting research. Institutions must consistently review and update their assurances to reflect compliance with applicable regulations, ensuring that animal welfare remains a priority in biomedical research. Other options presented may refer to different aspects of laboratory animal management, but they do not handle the submission of the Animal Welfare Assurance of Compliance specifically. The Office of Laboratory Animal Management, for example, may involve day-to-day operations, while the Office of Animal Care Compliance might deal with institutional oversight, but any formal assurances regarding compliance with animal welfare policies are directed to OLAW.