Question 1

When plating a nonroutine culture on primary culture media,the tech 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 florae 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 florae presently associated with the specimen?

Question 2

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 3

The best way to minimize the amount of upper respiratory florae in a sputum specimen is to follow these procedures:

Accepted Answer

A)  Cough up the specimen, then when the specimen gets to the lab, digest it with enzymes that will kill the normal florae. 
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 their mouth with water and expectorate with the aid of a really deep cough directly into a sterile container. 
D)  Have a respiratory tech decontaminate a patient's mouth and throat before the specimen is collected. 
A)  Cough up the specimen, then when the specimen gets to the lab, digest it with enzymes that will kill the normal florae. 
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 their mouth with water and expectorate with the aid of a really deep cough directly into a sterile container. 
D)  Have a respiratory tech decontaminate a patient's mouth and throat before the specimen is collected.

Question 4

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 5

What is the primary goal in the transportation of specimens to the laboratory?

Accepted Answer

A)  To get the specimen to the lab by the end of the day 
B)  To maintain the specimen as near its original state as possible with minimal deterioration 
C)  To place the specimen in formalin and then transport it to the laboratory 
D)  To allow the specimen to sit, as long as it is delivered to the laboratory within 2 to 3 days after collection 
A)  To get the specimen to the lab by the end of the day 
B)  To maintain the specimen as near its original state as possible with minimal deterioration 
C)  To place the specimen in formalin and then transport it to the laboratory 
D)  To allow the specimen to sit, as long as it is delivered to the laboratory within 2 to 3 days after collection

Question 6

Data generated by the laboratory is directly influenced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  The quality of the specimen and its condition when received 
B)  The physician's decision to do the test 
C)  Quality control performed on a monthly basis 
D)  The air quality in the laboratory 
A)  The quality of the specimen and its condition when received 
B)  The physician's decision to do the test 
C)  Quality control performed on a monthly basis 
D)  The air quality in the laboratory

Question 7

A technician receives a package from a supplier of quality control microorganisms.The package has a small watertight vial in a larger watertight tube.The larger tube has some bubble wrap around it,but the larger tube is just placed in the fiberboard box.All of the following was right with this packaging EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  The microorganisms are placed in a small watertight vial. 
B)  The small vial is placed in a larger watertight tube. 
C)  The primary receptacle was placed into the secondary container with no absorbent material. 
D)  The outer container is made of fiberboard. 
A)  The microorganisms are placed in a small watertight vial. 
B)  The small vial is placed in a larger watertight tube. 
C)  The primary receptacle was placed into the secondary container with no absorbent material. 
D)  The outer container is made of fiberboard.

Question 8

All of the four levels represent a possible scheme for prioritizing the handling of specimens EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  Level 1-critical 
B)  Level 2-unprotected 
C)  Level 3-quantitation required 
D)  Level 4-anticoagulated 
A)  Level 1-critical 
B)  Level 2-unprotected 
C)  Level 3-quantitation required 
D)  Level 4-anticoagulated

Question 9

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 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

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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 13

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)  Vagina specimens 
A)  Throat specimens 
B)  Urethral discharge from a male 
C)  Nasopharyngeal specimens 
D)  Vagina specimens

Question 14

A safe method of transporting aspirated material would be in:

Accepted Answer

A)  A leak-proof bag 
B)  A tube of broth 
C)  An anaerobic transport system 
D)  A plastic container 
A)  A leak-proof bag 
B)  A tube of broth 
C)  An anaerobic transport system 
D)  A plastic container

Question 15

To quantitate the number of bacteria for a routine urine culture,what size is the calibrated loop that is used?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.1 mL 
B)  0.001 mL 
C)  1 mL 
D)  0.01 mL 
A)  0.1 mL 
B)  0.001 mL 
C)  1 mL 
D)  0.01 mL

Question 16

Specimens such as blood,bone marrow,and synovium are mixed with anticoagulants right after collection.Why should this occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anticoagulants often dissolve part of the bacteria's cell wall and congeal many bacteria into groups. 
B)  Organisms become bound up in the clotted material and are difficult to isolate. 
C)  It ensures the specimen will work when using an automated spreader device. 
D)  It kills off the normal florae and only leaves the pathogens in the specimen. 
A)  Anticoagulants often dissolve part of the bacteria's cell wall and congeal many bacteria into groups. 
B)  Organisms become bound up in the clotted material and are difficult to isolate. 
C)  It ensures the specimen will work when using an automated spreader device. 
D)  It kills off the normal florae and only leaves the pathogens in the specimen.

Question 17

How does the Department of Transportation (DOT)define an infectious substance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Any substance capable of transmitting disease 
B)  A material known to contain or 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 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

Question 18

A night tech is working in microbiology when a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)specimen comes in.Almost simultaneously,the tech is called to the emergency department to draw blood on seriously injured car accident victims.How would the tech store the CSF until time permits to work on the CSF specimen?

Accepted Answer

A)  Put the specimen in the refrigerator where it is good for 4 hours at 4° C. 
B)  Leave the specimen on the shelf where it is good for 6 hours at room temperature. 
C)  Pour the specimen into a tube of broth. 
D)  Place the specimen in a 35° C incubator for 6 hours. 
A)  Put the specimen in the refrigerator where it is good for 4 hours at 4° C. 
B)  Leave the specimen on the shelf where it is good for 6 hours at room temperature. 
C)  Pour the specimen into a tube of broth. 
D)  Place the specimen in a 35° C incubator for 6 hours.

Question 19

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 20

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

Exam 6: Specimen Collection and Processing

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

The best way to minimize the amount of upper respiratory florae in a sputum specimen is to follow these procedures:

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

What is the primary goal in the transportation of specimens to the laboratory?

Data generated by the laboratory is directly influenced by:

All of the four levels represent a possible scheme for prioritizing the handling of specimens EXCEPT:

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

Microaerophiles are bacteria that grow:

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

Aerobes are bacteria that grow:

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

A safe method of transporting aspirated material would be in:

To quantitate the number of bacteria for a routine urine culture,what size is the calibrated loop that is used?

Specimens such as blood,bone marrow,and synovium are mixed with anticoagulants right after collection.Why should this occur?

How does the Department of Transportation (DOT)define an infectious substance?

A night tech is working in microbiology when a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)specimen comes in.Almost simultaneously,the tech is called to the emergency department to draw blood on seriously injured car accident victims.How would the tech store the CSF until time permits to work on the CSF specimen?

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

Sputum specimens are often collected for the diagnosis of:

Bacterial Cell Structure, physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics

Host-Parasite Interaction

Laboratory Role in Infection Control

Control of Microorganisms

Performance Improvement in the Microbiology Laboratory

Microscopic Examination of Infected Materials

Use of Colonial Morphology for the Presumptive Identification of Microorganisms

Biochemical Identification of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Immunodiagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Applications of Molecular Diagnostics

Antibiotic 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

Spirochetes

Chlamydia and Rickettsia

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Other Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria

Medically Significant Fungi

Diagnostic Parasitology

Clinical Virology

Agents of Bioterror

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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