Question 1

The most common route of infection of laboratory workers with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is:

Accepted Answer

A) mucous membranes. 
B) inhalation. 
C) ingestion. 
D) needlestick. 
A) mucous membranes. 
B) inhalation. 
C) ingestion. 
D) needlestick.

Question 2

Why should health care workers wash their hands after coming into contact with a patient?

Accepted Answer

A) To reduce the amount of red blood cells transmitted from one patient to the next 
B) To reduce the occurrence of hemolytic transfusion reactions 
C) To reduce the need for antiseptics and disinfectants 
D) To reduce the spread of pathogenic bacteria from one individual to another 
A) To reduce the amount of red blood cells transmitted from one patient to the next 
B) To reduce the occurrence of hemolytic transfusion reactions 
C) To reduce the need for antiseptics and disinfectants 
D) To reduce the spread of pathogenic bacteria from one individual to another

Question 3

What protective measures can a laboratory worker take when working with actively growing cultures to ensure that they do not become infected?

Accepted Answer

A) Ensure that fungal cultures are sealed and worked in a biosafety cabinet. 
B) Wash their hands at the end of their shift. 
C) Handle specimens routinely, using extra care for HIV and HBV cultures. 
D) Take off bandages on fingers when reading plates. 
A) Ensure that fungal cultures are sealed and worked in a biosafety cabinet. 
B) Wash their hands at the end of their shift. 
C) Handle specimens routinely, using extra care for HIV and HBV cultures. 
D) Take off bandages on fingers when reading plates.

Question 4

A biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) level of containment is used for organisms that:

Accepted Answer

A) cause 90% mortality of infected people. 
B) are well classified and not known to cause disease in healthy people. 
C) cause 90% morbidity of infected people. 
D) can be transmitted through aerosols. 
A) cause 90% mortality of infected people. 
B) are well classified and not known to cause disease in healthy people. 
C) cause 90% morbidity of infected people. 
D) can be transmitted through aerosols.

Question 5

Laboratory safety for hazardous chemicals includes:

Accepted Answer

A) restricting use of these chemicals to specific individuals. 
B) using fume hoods to prevent inhalation of fumes. 
C) locking chemicals in one specific "corrosives" cabinet. 
D) providing biohazard training to affected individuals. 
A) restricting use of these chemicals to specific individuals. 
B) using fume hoods to prevent inhalation of fumes. 
C) locking chemicals in one specific "corrosives" cabinet. 
D) providing biohazard training to affected individuals.

Question 6

When eliminating organisms from inanimate objects, higher numbers of organisms require longer exposure times because:

Accepted Answer

A) all disinfecting agents are not alike and some require shorter times. 
B) the chemical composition of the disinfecting agent varies. 
C) disinfecting agents containing carbon tetrachloride require longer times to act. 
D) it takes longer to eliminate 99% of microorganisms. 
A) all disinfecting agents are not alike and some require shorter times. 
B) the chemical composition of the disinfecting agent varies. 
C) disinfecting agents containing carbon tetrachloride require longer times to act. 
D) it takes longer to eliminate 99% of microorganisms.

Question 7

The comprehensive safety program for the microbiology laboratory needs to fulfill all the following provision except it:

Accepted Answer

A) is specific to the hospital and does not need to conform to state, local, and federal regulations. 
B) must address biologic hazards. 
C) must teach correct techniques for lifting and moving heavy objects and patients (where applicable). 
D) must describe the safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals. 
A) is specific to the hospital and does not need to conform to state, local, and federal regulations. 
B) must address biologic hazards. 
C) must teach correct techniques for lifting and moving heavy objects and patients (where applicable). 
D) must describe the safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals.

Question 8

Category A bioterrorism agents:

Accepted Answer

A) pose the highest threat because they are easily transmitted and highly infectious. 
B) have moderate morbidity and low mortality and are not easily transmitted. 
C) are emerging pathogens. 
D) are enteric pathogens. 
A) pose the highest threat because they are easily transmitted and highly infectious. 
B) have moderate morbidity and low mortality and are not easily transmitted. 
C) are emerging pathogens. 
D) are enteric pathogens.

Question 9

Even though hypochlorites are inexpensive and have a broad range of microbes that they kill, they are not used as sterilants because of the:

Accepted Answer

A) corrosive nature of the compound. 
B) activation required by organic matter. 
C) short exposure time for sporicidal action. 
D) long exposure time for sporicidal action. 
A) corrosive nature of the compound. 
B) activation required by organic matter. 
C) short exposure time for sporicidal action. 
D) long exposure time for sporicidal action.

Question 10

Once bioterrorism is suspected, a sentinel laboratory should perform all culture manipulation using what safety guidelines?

Accepted Answer

A) BSL-2 
B) BSL-3 
C) BSL-4 
D) BSL-1 
A) BSL-2 
B) BSL-3 
C) BSL-4 
D) BSL-1

Question 11

Organisms that are the most resistant to heat, chemicals, and radiation are:

Accepted Answer

A) parasites. 
B) prions. 
C) bacteria. 
D) viruses. 
A) parasites. 
B) prions. 
C) bacteria. 
D) viruses.

Question 12

High-level disinfectants are active against all the following except:

Accepted Answer

A) parasites. 
B) spores. 
C) fungi. 
D) tubercle bacilli. 
A) parasites. 
B) spores. 
C) fungi. 
D) tubercle bacilli.

Question 13

Safety program and work practice controls consist of all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A) ensuring written procedures are in place for a task. 
B) altering the manner in which a task is performed to reduce exposure to infectious agents. 
C) allowing workers to eat at the bench if it gets busy and they do not have time to take a lunch break. 
D) reviewing the procedure manual annually. 
A) ensuring written procedures are in place for a task. 
B) altering the manner in which a task is performed to reduce exposure to infectious agents. 
C) allowing workers to eat at the bench if it gets busy and they do not have time to take a lunch break. 
D) reviewing the procedure manual annually.

Question 14

If a laboratory uses hazardous chemicals, it must:

Accepted Answer

A) keep a chemical inventory and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on hand. 
B) keep chemicals in a special corrosive cabinet. 
C) keep chemicals in a special locking cabinet. 
D) post chemical names and locations on the door of the laboratory. 
A) keep a chemical inventory and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on hand. 
B) keep chemicals in a special corrosive cabinet. 
C) keep chemicals in a special locking cabinet. 
D) post chemical names and locations on the door of the laboratory.

Question 15

Technicians are doing the morning chemistry run.Once they load the specimens onto the instrument, they remove their gloves to do paperwork in a clean area of the laboratory.What should the technicians do after removing their gloves?

Accepted Answer

A) Reposition the tubes in the racks. 
B) Take a break and eat a snack. 
C) Call any critical values. 
D) Wash their hands. 
A) Reposition the tubes in the racks. 
B) Take a break and eat a snack. 
C) Call any critical values. 
D) Wash their hands.

Question 16

Which chemical is a saturated 5-carbon dialdehyde that has broad-spectrum activity, rapid killing action, and remains active in the presence of organic matter?

Accepted Answer

A) Formalin 
B) Formaldehyde 
C) Haloaldehyde 
D) Glutaraldehyde 
A) Formalin 
B) Formaldehyde 
C) Haloaldehyde 
D) Glutaraldehyde

Question 17

Many materials in hospitals that must be sterilized cannot withstand steam sterilization.Gas sterilization is used instead, which uses:

Accepted Answer

A) nitrous oxide. 
B) oxygen. 
C) ethylene oxide. 
D) carbon dioxide. 
A) nitrous oxide. 
B) oxygen. 
C) ethylene oxide. 
D) carbon dioxide.

Question 18

The laboratory exposure control plan should contain all the following except:

Accepted Answer

A) engineer and work practice controls. 
B) review of control plan every 5 years. 
C) methods of compliance for Standard Precautions. 
D) guidelines for handling and disposal of regulated waste. 
A) engineer and work practice controls. 
B) review of control plan every 5 years. 
C) methods of compliance for Standard Precautions. 
D) guidelines for handling and disposal of regulated waste.

Question 19

The tech needs to sterilize a piece of equipment that cannot be autoclaved or gas sterilized because the equipment contains lenses, metal, and rubber components.What solution should be used to sterilize this piece of equipment?

Accepted Answer

A) 10% Bleach 
B) 37% Formalin 
C) Glutaraldehyde 
D) 90% Alcohol 
A) 10% Bleach 
B) 37% Formalin 
C) Glutaraldehyde 
D) 90% Alcohol

Question 20

The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) defines hazardous waste as:

Accepted Answer

A) those wastes that present an aerosol, infectious, or sharps danger to laboratory and hospital personnel. 
B) those substances that singly or in combination pose a significant present or potential threat or hazard to human health. 
C) exotic and indigenous microorganisms and chemicals that present an infectious, explosive, corrosive, or irritant risk. 
D) all the following classes of substances: microorganisms, toxic chemicals, electricity, fire, and bloodborne pathogens. 
A) those wastes that present an aerosol, infectious, or sharps danger to laboratory and hospital personnel. 
B) those substances that singly or in combination pose a significant present or potential threat or hazard to human health. 
C) exotic and indigenous microorganisms and chemicals that present an infectious, explosive, corrosive, or irritant risk. 
D) all the following classes of substances: microorganisms, toxic chemicals, electricity, fire, and bloodborne pathogens.

Exam 4: Control of Microorganisms

The most common route of infection of laboratory workers with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is:

Why should health care workers wash their hands after coming into contact with a patient?

What protective measures can a laboratory worker take when working with actively growing cultures to ensure that they do not become infected?

A biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) level of containment is used for organisms that:

Laboratory safety for hazardous chemicals includes:

When eliminating organisms from inanimate objects, higher numbers of organisms require longer exposure times because:

The comprehensive safety program for the microbiology laboratory needs to fulfill all the following provision except it:

Category A bioterrorism agents:

Even though hypochlorites are inexpensive and have a broad range of microbes that they kill, they are not used as sterilants because of the:

Once bioterrorism is suspected, a sentinel laboratory should perform all culture manipulation using what safety guidelines?

Organisms that are the most resistant to heat, chemicals, and radiation are:

High-level disinfectants are active against all the following except:

Safety program and work practice controls consist of all of the following except:

If a laboratory uses hazardous chemicals, it must:

Technicians are doing the morning chemistry run.Once they load the specimens onto the instrument, they remove their gloves to do paperwork in a clean area of the laboratory.What should the technicians do after removing their gloves?

Which chemical is a saturated 5-carbon dialdehyde that has broad-spectrum activity, rapid killing action, and remains active in the presence of organic matter?

Many materials in hospitals that must be sterilized cannot withstand steam sterilization.Gas sterilization is used instead, which uses:

The laboratory exposure control plan should contain all the following except:

The tech needs to sterilize a piece of equipment that cannot be autoclaved or gas sterilized because the equipment contains lenses, metal, and rubber components.What solution should be used to sterilize this piece of equipment?

The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) defines hazardous waste as:

Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics

Host-Parasite Interaction

The Laboratory Role in Infection Control

Performance Improvement in the Microbiology Laboratory

Specimen Collection and Processing

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

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

Staphylococci

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

Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacilli

Neisseria Species and Moraxella Catarrhalis

Haemophilus and Other Fastidious Gram-Negative Bacilli

Enterobacteriaceae

Vibrio, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, 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 Diseases

Infections in Special Populations

Zoonotic Diseases

Ocular Infections

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