Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which is a common method for marking rats for identification?

1. Collars

2. Tattoos

3. Color coding

4. Radios

The correct answer is: Tattoos

Marking rats for identification is crucial in laboratory settings to track individual animals and maintain accurate records. One of the most common methods utilized is tattooing. This technique involves the permanent ink marking of the skin, which provides a unique identification number or symbol for each rat. Tattoos are advantageous because they are durable and less likely to be lost or removed compared to other methods, such as collars that can fall off. While collars can be useful in some animal species, they can pose risks of injury or discomfort to rats due to their size and behavior. Color coding, while visually helpful, does not provide a permanent solution and can be less effective if the markers fade or fall off. Although radios assist in tracking the location and movement of animals, they are not practical for simple identification purposes. Tattoos provide a reliable and long-lasting means of identification, making them a preferred choice in laboratory animal management.