The animal-rights activist who infiltrated the University of Utah's animal-research labs this year is the same woman who was involved in a similar operation at the Oregon National Primate Research Center two years ago, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.

Lindsay West, identified only as "LZ" in formal complaints filed against the U. by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), was hired as an animal support technician, then used hidden cameras to document alleged violations of animal-welfare laws and research standards at both institutions.

Oregon officials decided to name West this week because of her involvement in an undercover operation at another research institution. U. officials declined to name the Utah infiltrator, but several university sources have confirmed West and "LZ" are one and the same.

In addition to denying the substance of PETA's allegations, U. officials say West was a "fraudulent" employee who trumped up key elements of PETA's charges and used deception to gain employment. In response, PETA produced two letters of recommendation from the U., describing West as an exemplary animal-care specialist, although her name was redacted.

West worked at the Oregon primate lab from April 9 to July 26, 2007, according to Jim Newman, a spokesman for Oregon Health and Science University. The university operates the lab, established by the National Institutes of Heath, in the Portland suburb of Beaverton. Video recorded in the lab by West was used to support a complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging the lab was not properly caring for many of its hundreds of monkeys and subjecting them to inhumane experiments.

"Within two weeks they [USDA] were investigating based on the PETA complaint and within a couple days we were given a clean bill of health," said Newman.

In an ironic twist, the U. said it couldn't divulge the PETA agent's identity because of a state law passed last year shielding the names of animal-lab workers from public disclosure. U. officials lobbied hard for the law in the wake of street demonstrations outside the homes of U. scientists who use primates in their research. Last year in California, extremists allegedly assaulted researchers in their homes and firebombed their cars.

"While there is some debate about whether this infiltrator was a legitimate technician, the university feels compelled to avoid setting a precedent by releasing the name of this individual, or anyone who works in a lab that may include animals in scientific research," said U. spokesman Remi Baron.

U. officials believe West hid a video camera under the bandana she always wore on her head at work. A significant portion of her video was obtained while she was in training, featuring interview-like exchanges with other employees who had no idea they were being recorded.

All employees of the U.'s animal labs are required to sign confidentiality agreements that explicitly bar them from recording photographs inside the facilities. West was provided a copy of the document and told to review it, but never returned a signed copy, according to Jack Taylor, director of the U.'s Office of Comparative Medicine.

"It shows the deceptive nature of what she intended to do,'' Taylor said. West passed a national criminal background check, he added, but he did not anticipate changes in the U.'s employee-vetting system, saying it is as thorough as it could be.

Taylor is glad Oregon officials have confirmed West's identity.

"I, for one, think I owe it to the rest of the people in my field to let them know that she is out there and may be showing up at their facility with the intention of doing something similar,'' he said.

Less than a month ago, however, Taylor and West's supervisor, Lara Sims, wrote positive job recommendations for West.

"She helped to improve our enrichment program particularly regarding felines under her care and was diligent in carrying out the existing programs involving all our animals. The veterinarians felt that she was one of the most observant technicians to have worked here," Sims wrote in the Oct. 26 letter, which PETA provided with the employee's name whited out.

Earlier this month, PETA filed complaints with the National Institutes of Health, USDA and the Humane Society of Utah, alleging broad-based "flagrant" mistreatment and neglect at the U. labs involving mice, primates, rabbits, pigs and frogs, as well as dogs and cats allegedly obtained from shelters. The complaints were based entirely on video, photos and field notes West compiled from February to October, when she moved away from Utah.

PETA officials, however, declined to make West available for interviews or even confirm her name.

"I can't tell you because I don't know who she is," said Kathy Guillermo, who heads PETA's lab investigations team. "The people at PETA who do know can't because she is a potential witness, so they feel they can't say anything for legal reasons."

In the Oregon case, PETA alleged workers sprayed high-pressure hoses to clean out cages without removing research monkeys; that monkeys suffered prolapsed rectums and other painful conditions that were not properly treated; and that monkeys displayed signs of extreme psychological trauma stemming from small cages. West's video supported those allegations, but the Agriculture Department found no evidence the lab violated animal-welfare laws.

"The USDA never interviewed our investigator or reviewed our footage," Guillermo said. But the agency did issue the lab a warning based on a follow-up complaint PETA made, which alleged that a few monkeys were victims of veterinary malpractice.