Question 1

The best way to minimize the amount of upper respiratory flora in a sputum specimen is to follow which of these procedures?

Accepted Answer

A) Cough up the specimen and when the specimen gets to the laboratory, digest it with enzymes that will kill the normal flora. 
B) When plating the specimen, ensure that the swab goes deep into the sample to get only bacteria present in the lower lung. 
C) Have the patient rinse the mouth with water and expectorate with the aid of a really deep cough directly into a sterile container. 
D) Have a respiratory technician decontaminate a patient's mouth and throat before the specimen is collected. 
A) Cough up the specimen and when the specimen gets to the laboratory, digest it with enzymes that will kill the normal flora. 
B) When plating the specimen, ensure that the swab goes deep into the sample to get only bacteria present in the lower lung. 
C) Have the patient rinse the mouth with water and expectorate with the aid of a really deep cough directly into a sterile container. 
D) Have a respiratory technician decontaminate a patient's mouth and throat before the specimen is collected.

Question 2

The purpose of transport media is to:

Accepted Answer

A) make sure the microorganisms can multiply and live as though they were still in the host. 
B) keep the swab moist so that the microorganisms do not dry out. 
C) ensure the preservation of microorganisms in the specimen. 
D) take the place of plating a routine culture with the specimen. 
A) make sure the microorganisms can multiply and live as though they were still in the host. 
B) keep the swab moist so that the microorganisms do not dry out. 
C) ensure the preservation of microorganisms in the specimen. 
D) take the place of plating a routine culture with the specimen.

Question 3

All of the four levels represent a possible scheme for prioritizing the handling of specimens, except level:

Accepted Answer

A) 1: critical. 
B) 2: unprotected. 
C) 3: quantitation required. 
D) 4: anticoagulated. 
A) 1: critical. 
B) 2: unprotected. 
C) 3: quantitation required. 
D) 4: anticoagulated.

Question 4

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 5

Most bacterial cultures are incubated at what temperature range?

Accepted Answer

A) 25° to 27° C 
B) 30° to 40° C 
C) 35° to 37° C 
D) 40° to 42° C 
A) 25° to 27° C 
B) 30° to 40° C 
C) 35° to 37° C 
D) 40° to 42° C

Question 6

Why does a fecal sample for culture need to be collected in a leak-proof, nonsterile container?

Accepted Answer

A) Fecal samples can be runny and if the specimen leaks, this can present a biohazard. 
B) Many types of bacteria call the intestinal tract home; the specimen cannot become contaminated. 
C) Leak-proof containers are always sterile, so the container will be leak-proof, as well as sterile. 
D) Because DNA probes can determine resident flora from pathogenic bacteria. 
A) Fecal samples can be runny and if the specimen leaks, this can present a biohazard. 
B) Many types of bacteria call the intestinal tract home; the specimen cannot become contaminated. 
C) Leak-proof containers are always sterile, so the container will be leak-proof, as well as sterile. 
D) Because DNA probes can determine resident flora from pathogenic bacteria.

Question 7

Nonselective media supports the:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

The requisition form should provide all the following information except:

Accepted Answer

A) patient name or identification number. 
B) patient age and gender. 
C) patient home address. 
D) specific anatomic site. 
A) patient name or identification number. 
B) patient age and gender. 
C) patient home address. 
D) specific anatomic site.

Question 9

What technique is used to isolate bacterial colonies when inoculating organisms onto an agar plate?

Accepted Answer

A) Homogenization 
B) Centrifugation 
C) Isolation streaking 
D) Culture streaking 
A) Homogenization 
B) Centrifugation 
C) Isolation streaking 
D) Culture streaking

Question 10

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 11

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 12

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

The goal of the specimen collector when collecting specimens for culture should be to:

Accepted Answer

A) make sure the specimen gets to the laboratory. 
B) avoid hurting the patient when collecting the specimen. 
C) maintain the viability of the living organisms at the site with minimal contamination. 
D) get the specimen quickly to get the doctor off the collector's back. 
A) make sure the specimen gets to the laboratory. 
B) avoid hurting the patient when collecting the specimen. 
C) maintain the viability of the living organisms at the site with minimal contamination. 
D) get the specimen quickly to get the doctor off the collector's back.

Question 14

Proper identification of each specimen includes a label firmly attached to the container with all the following information except:

Accepted Answer

A) diagnosis. 
B) name. 
C) identification number. 
D) date. 
A) diagnosis. 
B) name. 
C) identification number. 
D) date.

Question 15

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

Aerobes are bacteria that grow in:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

How should specimen collection instructions be given to the patient to ensure collection of a good specimen for culture?

Accepted Answer

A) Verbally 
B) Verbally, in many different languages 
C) Verbally and written in English 
D) Written, using simple language (in several languages) and pictures to help the patient understand the procedure as it is verbally explained 
A) Verbally 
B) Verbally, in many different languages 
C) Verbally and written in English 
D) Written, using simple language (in several languages) and pictures to help the patient understand the procedure as it is verbally explained

Question 19

Notations from the macroscopic (gross) examination of a specimen should include all the following except:

Accepted Answer

A) swab or aspirate. 
B) stool consistency. 
C) blood or mucus present. 
D) the type of container in which the specimen was collected. 
A) swab or aspirate. 
B) stool consistency. 
C) blood or mucus present. 
D) the type of container in which the specimen was collected.

Question 20

Direct microscopic examinations are not recommended for all the following specimen sources except:

Accepted Answer

A) throat specimens. 
B) urethral discharge from a male. 
C) nasopharyngeal specimens. 
D) vaginal specimens. 
A) throat specimens. 
B) urethral discharge from a male. 
C) nasopharyngeal specimens. 
D) vaginal specimens.

Exam 6: Specimen Collection and Processing

The best way to minimize the amount of upper respiratory flora in a sputum specimen is to follow which of these procedures?

The purpose of transport media is to:

All of the four levels represent a possible scheme for prioritizing the handling of specimens, except level:

Microaerophiles are bacteria that grow:

Most bacterial cultures are incubated at what temperature range?

Why does a fecal sample for culture need to be collected in a leak-proof, nonsterile container?

Nonselective media supports the:

The requisition form should provide all the following information except:

What technique is used to isolate bacterial colonies when inoculating organisms onto an agar plate?

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

Differential media:

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

The goal of the specimen collector when collecting specimens for culture should be to:

Proper identification of each specimen includes a label firmly attached to the container with all the following information except:

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

Aerobes are bacteria that grow in:

How should specimen collection instructions be given to the patient to ensure collection of a good specimen for culture?

Notations from the macroscopic (gross) examination of a specimen should include all the following except:

Direct microscopic examinations are not recommended for all the following specimen sources except:

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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