Question 1

If transport of the specimen is delayed, the specimen can be maintained by all of the following, except

Accepted Answer

A)  preservatives. 
B)  transport or holding medium. 
C)  saltwater. 
D)  anticoagulants. 
A)  preservatives. 
B)  transport or holding medium. 
C)  saltwater. 
D)  anticoagulants.

Question 2

What method is used to concentrate specimens to increase recovery of pathogens in the microbiology laboratory?

Accepted Answer

A)  Homogenization 
B)  Centrifugation 
C)  Mixing 
D)  Anticoagulation 
A)  Homogenization 
B)  Centrifugation 
C)  Mixing 
D)  Anticoagulation

Question 3

Differential media

Accepted Answer

A)  support the grouping of microbes based on different characteristics demonstrated in the media. 
B)  allow the growth of fastidious microbes through the addition of certain growth enhancers. 
C)  support the growth of most nonfastidious microbes. 
D)  support the growth of one type or group of microbes, but not another. 
A)  support the grouping of microbes based on different characteristics demonstrated in the media. 
B)  allow the growth of fastidious microbes through the addition of certain growth enhancers. 
C)  support the growth of most nonfastidious microbes. 
D)  support the growth of one type or group of microbes, but not another.

Question 4

When plating a nonroutine culture on primary culture media, the technician should ask all the following questions, except:

Accepted Answer

A)  What anaerobic bacteria will be present in this specimen? 
B)  Is the specimen likely to contain low numbers or high numbers of organisms? 
C)  Are the organisms to be found in this specimen likely to be fastidious or nonfastidious? 
D)  Are any normal flora presently associated with the specimen? 
A)  What anaerobic bacteria will be present in this specimen? 
B)  Is the specimen likely to contain low numbers or high numbers of organisms? 
C)  Are the organisms to be found in this specimen likely to be fastidious or nonfastidious? 
D)  Are any normal flora presently associated with the specimen?

Question 5

The direct microscopic examination is a useful tool for all the following reasons, except

Accepted Answer

A)  it can tell the physician what type of normal flora is present on the smear and if it is anaerobic or aerobic. 
B)  it can be used to determine the quality of the specimen. 
C)  it can give the microbiology technologist and the physician an indication of the infectious process involved. 
D)  it can dictate the need for nonroutine or additional testing. 
A)  it can tell the physician what type of normal flora is present on the smear and if it is anaerobic or aerobic. 
B)  it can be used to determine the quality of the specimen. 
C)  it can give the microbiology technologist and the physician an indication of the infectious process involved. 
D)  it can dictate the need for nonroutine or additional testing.

Question 6

How is culture media selected for specimen plating?

Accepted Answer

A)  Determine the supplemental agar needed, as well as the broth media. 
B)  Always include nonselective media and differential media to help save a day of reading the culture on the bench. 
C)  Use only broth for the initial inoculation and subculture to plates after 24 hours of incubation. 
D)  The selection of media to inoculate is based on the type of specimen submitted for culture and the organisms likely to be involved in the infectious process. 
A)  Determine the supplemental agar needed, as well as the broth media. 
B)  Always include nonselective media and differential media to help save a day of reading the culture on the bench. 
C)  Use only broth for the initial inoculation and subculture to plates after 24 hours of incubation. 
D)  The selection of media to inoculate is based on the type of specimen submitted for culture and the organisms likely to be involved in the infectious process.

Question 7

Two types of specimens can use preservatives to maintain them until they can be delivered to the laboratory. They are

Accepted Answer

A)  urine, stool. 
B)  urine, vaginal secretions. 
C)  stool, throat cultures. 
D)  pus from a wound, vaginal secretions. 
A)  urine, stool. 
B)  urine, vaginal secretions. 
C)  stool, throat cultures. 
D)  pus from a wound, vaginal secretions.

Question 8

All specimens must be transported

Accepted Answer

A)  in leakproof secondary containers. 
B)  in syringes with needles attached. 
C)  in a tube of broth. 
D)  in a latex glove. 
A)  in leakproof secondary containers. 
B)  in syringes with needles attached. 
C)  in a tube of broth. 
D)  in a latex glove.

Question 9

To perform a quality laboratory analysis, the laboratory needs specific information regarding the patient and the specimen. What can be a critical weak link in the specimen management process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Poor specimen collection techniques 
B)  Incomplete information on the requisition 
C)  Poor-quality hospital information system 
D)  Poor-quality laboratory information system 
A)  Poor specimen collection techniques 
B)  Incomplete information on the requisition 
C)  Poor-quality hospital information system 
D)  Poor-quality laboratory information system

Question 10

Microaerophiles are bacteria that grow

Accepted Answer

A)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
B)  in high carbon dioxide concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present. 
A)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
B)  in high carbon dioxide concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present.

Question 11

Anaerobes are bacteria that grow

Accepted Answer

A)  in increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
B)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present. 
A)  in increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
B)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present.

Question 12

The technician in the laboratory has received a specimen that is rejected. The technician calls the physician and tells the physician the specimen is unacceptable and the reason why. The physician insists that the culture needs to be performed on this unacceptable culture. What should the technician do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Have the laboratory manager call the physician and tell him that a new specimen needs to be resubmitted because the laboratory will not perform a culture on this specimen. 
B)  Throw the specimen away and request a new one from the physician. 
C)  Plate the culture, but include a comment explaining the potentially compromised test results. 
D)  Discard both the specimen and the requisition, and pretend that the specimen was never received in the laboratory. 
A)  Have the laboratory manager call the physician and tell him that a new specimen needs to be resubmitted because the laboratory will not perform a culture on this specimen. 
B)  Throw the specimen away and request a new one from the physician. 
C)  Plate the culture, but include a comment explaining the potentially compromised test results. 
D)  Discard both the specimen and the requisition, and pretend that the specimen was never received in the laboratory.

Question 13

All of the following are questions that the microbiology technologist will ask while reading and interpreting the growth of cultures, except:

Accepted Answer

A)  What is the source of the culture? 
B)  How long has this culture been incubated? 
C)  Does this source have normal flora, or is it a sterile source? 
D)  What are the most likely pathogens in this specimen? 
A)  What is the source of the culture? 
B)  How long has this culture been incubated? 
C)  Does this source have normal flora, or is it a sterile source? 
D)  What are the most likely pathogens in this specimen?

Question 14

If a 0.001 mL quantitative loop is used to inoculate plate media for a urine culture, each colony of growth represents how many organisms per milliliter in the original sample?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 organism 
B)  10 organisms 
C)  100 organisms 
D)  1000 organisms 
A)  1 organism 
B)  10 organisms 
C)  100 organisms 
D)  1000 organisms

Question 15

Aerobes are bacteria that grow

Accepted Answer

A)  in low oxygen tension. 
B)  in high carbon dioxide concentrations. 
C)  in high nitrogen concentrations. 
D)  in ambient air. 
A)  in low oxygen tension. 
B)  in high carbon dioxide concentrations. 
C)  in high nitrogen concentrations. 
D)  in ambient air.

Question 16

A safe method of transporting aspirated wound material would be in

Accepted Answer

A)  a leakproof bag. 
B)  a tube of broth. 
C)  an anaerobic transport system. 
D)  a plastic container. 
A)  a leakproof bag. 
B)  a tube of broth. 
C)  an anaerobic transport system. 
D)  a plastic container.

Question 17

In certain instances, it is desirable for specimens to be inoculated directly onto culture media. Specimens for this pathogen can be placed onto a commercial transport system called a James E. Martin Biological Environmental Chamber (JEMBEC) system. What pathogen is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bordetella pertussis 
B)  Clostridium difficile 
C)  Francisella tularensis 
D)  Neisseria gonorrhoeae 
A)  Bordetella pertussis 
B)  Clostridium difficile 
C)  Francisella tularensis 
D)  Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Question 18

Capnophiles are bacteria that grow

Accepted Answer

A)  in increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
B)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present. 
A)  in increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
B)  in low oxygen concentrations. 
C)  in reduced oxygen concentrations but increased carbon dioxide concentrations. 
D)  where little or no oxygen is present.

Question 19

Swabs are appropriate for specimens collected from all the following sites, except

Accepted Answer

A)  upper respiratory tract. 
B)  external ear. 
C)  urine. 
D)  genital tract. 
A)  upper respiratory tract. 
B)  external ear. 
C)  urine. 
D)  genital tract.

Question 20

How does the DOT define an infectious substance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Any substance capable of transmitting disease 
B)  A material known to contain or is suspected of containing a pathogen that causes disease in humans or animals 
C)  Any substance that can cause disease in animals 
D)  A bacterium, virus, prion, or virion 
A)  Any substance capable of transmitting disease 
B)  A material known to contain or is suspected of containing a pathogen that causes disease in humans or animals 
C)  Any substance that can cause disease in animals 
D)  A bacterium, virus, prion, or virion

Exam 6: Specimen Collection and Processing

If transport of the specimen is delayed, the specimen can be maintained by all of the following, except

What method is used to concentrate specimens to increase recovery of pathogens in the microbiology laboratory?

Differential media

When plating a nonroutine culture on primary culture media, the technician should ask all the following questions, except:

The direct microscopic examination is a useful tool for all the following reasons, except

How is culture media selected for specimen plating?

Two types of specimens can use preservatives to maintain them until they can be delivered to the laboratory. They are

All specimens must be transported

To perform a quality laboratory analysis, the laboratory needs specific information regarding the patient and the specimen. What can be a critical weak link in the specimen management process?

Microaerophiles are bacteria that grow

Anaerobes are bacteria that grow

All of the following are questions that the microbiology technologist will ask while reading and interpreting the growth of cultures, except:

If a 0.001 mL quantitative loop is used to inoculate plate media for a urine culture, each colony of growth represents how many organisms per milliliter in the original sample?

Aerobes are bacteria that grow

A safe method of transporting aspirated wound material would be in

In certain instances, it is desirable for specimens to be inoculated directly onto culture media. Specimens for this pathogen can be placed onto a commercial transport system called a James E. Martin Biological Environmental Chamber (JEMBEC) system. What pathogen is this?

Capnophiles are bacteria that grow

Swabs are appropriate for specimens collected from all the following sites, except

How does the DOT define an infectious substance?

Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics

Hostparasite Interaction

The Laboratory Role in Infection Control

Control of Microorganisms

Performance Improvement in the Microbiology Laboratory

Microscopic Examination of Materials From Infected Sites

Use of Colony Morphology for the Presumptive Identification of Microorganisms

Biochemical Identification of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Immunodiagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Applications of Molecular Diagnostics

Antimicrobial Agent Mechanisms of Action and Resistance Mechanisms

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Staphylococci

Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Other Catalase-Negative, Gram-Positive Cocci

Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacilli

Neisseria Species and Moraxella Catarrhalis

Haemophilus, Hacek, Legionella, and Other Fastidious Gram-Negative Bacilli

Enterobacteriaceae

Vibrio, Aeromonas, and Campylobacter Species

Nonfermenting and Miscellaneous Gram-Negative Bacilli

Anaerobes of Clinical Importance

The Spirochetes

Chlamydia, Rickettsia, and Similar Organisms

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Medically Significant Fungi

Diagnostic Parasitology

Clinical Virology

Agents of Bioterror and Forensic Microbiology

Biofilms: Architects of Disease

Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Poisoning

Infections of the Central Nervous System

Bacteremia and Sepsis

Urinary Tract Infections

Genital Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Infections in Special Populations

Zoonotic Diseases

Ocular Infections

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