Question 1

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. D

Question 2

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. D

Question 3

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. C

Question 4

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 5

The shipment of clinical specimens and cultures of microorganisms is governed by a complex set of national and international guidelines issued by The Department of:

Accepted Answer

A) Transportation and the U.S.Postal Service. 
B) Agriculture and the United Parcel Service. 
C) Energy and Federal Express. 
D) Defense and Homeland Security. 
A) Transportation and the U.S.Postal Service. 
B) Agriculture and the United Parcel Service. 
C) Energy and Federal Express. 
D) Defense and Homeland Security.

Question 6

All specimens must be transported in:

Accepted Answer

A) leak-proof secondary containers. 
B) syringes with needles attached. 
C) a tube of broth. 
D) a latex glove. 
A) leak-proof secondary containers. 
B) syringes with needles attached. 
C) a tube of broth. 
D) a latex glove.

Question 7

All of the following are examples of suboptimal specimens that must be rejected except the:

Accepted Answer

A) information on the requisition does not match the information on the specimen label. 
B) specimen is for a Neisseria gonorrhoeae (G
C)  culture and submitted in a JEMBEC system. 
C) specimen container is leaking when received in the laboratory. 
D) specimen is received in a fixative solution such as formalin. 
A) information on the requisition does not match the information on the specimen label. 
B) specimen is for a Neisseria gonorrhoeae (G
C)  culture and submitted in a JEMBEC system. 
C) specimen container is leaking when received in the laboratory. 
D) specimen is received in a fixative solution such as formalin.

Question 8

Cultures for anaerobes and broth cultures may be incubated for:

Accepted Answer

A) 5 to 7 days. 
B) 48 to 72 hours. 
C) 7 to 9 days. 
D) 12 to 24 hours. 
A) 5 to 7 days. 
B) 48 to 72 hours. 
C) 7 to 9 days. 
D) 12 to 24 hours.

Question 9

When using the isolation streaking technique, the greatest concentration of organisms (if present) will be in which quadrant?

Accepted Answer

A) Fourth 
B) Third 
C) Second 
D) First 
A) Fourth 
B) Third 
C) Second 
D) First

Question 10

When using the isolation streaking technique, the most isolated forms of the organism should be in which quadrant?

Accepted Answer

A) Fourth 
B) Third 
C) Second 
D) First 
A) Fourth 
B) Third 
C) Second 
D) First

Question 11

Enriched 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 12

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 13

What work practice have microbiologists incorporated to keep laboratory testing cost-effective while providing optimum patient care?

Accepted Answer

A) Using definitive identification for the standard of quality patient care 
B) Always identifying organisms to the maximum extent 
C) Limited identification procedures 
D) Limited antimicrobial susceptibility procedures 
A) Using definitive identification for the standard of quality patient care 
B) Always identifying organisms to the maximum extent 
C) Limited identification procedures 
D) Limited antimicrobial susceptibility procedures

Question 14

Selective media:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Sputum specimens are often collected for the diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

A) acute pharyngitis. 
B) bacterial pneumonia. 
C) meningitis. 
D) diverticulitis. 
A) acute pharyngitis. 
B) bacterial pneumonia. 
C) meningitis. 
D) diverticulitis.

Question 16

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 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 17

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 18

Routine primary plating media include all the following items except:

Accepted Answer

A) special biochemical media. 
B) nonselective agar plate. 
C) selective and differential medium for enteric gram-negative bacilli for most routine bacterial cultures. 
D) broth medium used as a supplement. 
A) special biochemical media. 
B) nonselective agar plate. 
C) selective and differential medium for enteric gram-negative bacilli for most routine bacterial cultures. 
D) broth medium used as a supplement.

Question 19

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 20

To assist hospital personnel in collecting the highest quality specimen, the laboratory should:

Accepted Answer

A) post the microbiology laboratory's phone numbers in each section so personnel can call with questions and problems. 
B) develop a well-written handbook and make it available at every patient care unit. 
C) allow personnel to go to the floor and collect all specimens. 
D) severely reprimand staff for not collecting specimens properly. 
A) post the microbiology laboratory's phone numbers in each section so personnel can call with questions and problems. 
B) develop a well-written handbook and make it available at every patient care unit. 
C) allow personnel to go to the floor and collect all specimens. 
D) severely reprimand staff for not collecting specimens properly.

Exam 6: Specimen Collection and Processing

How is culture media selected for specimen plating?

Anaerobes are bacteria that grow:

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

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?

The shipment of clinical specimens and cultures of microorganisms is governed by a complex set of national and international guidelines issued by The Department of:

All specimens must be transported in:

All of the following are examples of suboptimal specimens that must be rejected except the:

Cultures for anaerobes and broth cultures may be incubated for:

When using the isolation streaking technique, the greatest concentration of organisms (if present) will be in which quadrant?

When using the isolation streaking technique, the most isolated forms of the organism should be in which quadrant?

Enriched media:

Capnophiles are bacteria that grow:

What work practice have microbiologists incorporated to keep laboratory testing cost-effective while providing optimum patient care?

Selective media:

Sputum specimens are often collected for the diagnosis of:

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 JEMBEC system.What pathogen is this?

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

Routine primary plating media include all the following items except:

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

To assist hospital personnel in collecting the highest quality specimen, the laboratory should:

Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics

Host-Parasite 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

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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