Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What should be done before allowing anyone entry into a laboratory?

1. Verify their identity and authorization

2. Ensure they have proper insurance documentation

3. Confirm they have specialized training

4. Check their affiliation with the university

The correct answer is: Verify their identity and authorization

Verifying an individual's identity and authorization is a crucial step before granting entry into a laboratory setting. This process ensures that only individuals who have the appropriate permissions, training, and need-to-know status are allowed access to potentially hazardous or sensitive research environments. This practice upholds safety standards, protects intellectual property, and ensures compliance with institutional policies and federal regulations. Looking at the other options, while proper insurance documentation and specialized training are important in a laboratory context, they are not the primary concerns for granting entry. Insurance documentation typically pertains to liability and safety coverage but does not directly relate to who can enter a laboratory space. Specialized training is essential, but authorization takes precedence as it confirms not only training but also the individual's right to access that area. Checking affiliation with a university can be relevant but does not comprehensively ensure that someone is authorized to enter the laboratory. Overall, verifying identity and authorization is the foundational step in maintaining a secure lab environment.