FREE Medical Laboratory Technician Microbiology Specimen Processing Questions and Answers

Question 1

A medical laboratory technician receives a sputum specimen for bacterial culture. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step to assess the quality of the specimen before processing?

Accepted Answer

Perform a Gram stain and examine for the ratio of squamous epithelial cells to white blood cells.

Answer

Immediately inoculate onto blood agar, chocolate agar, and MacConkey agar.

Answer

Centrifuge the specimen and examine the sediment microscopically for bacteria.

Answer

Store the specimen at 4°C for 24 hours to allow bacterial growth.

Question 2

Which of the following transport media is specifically designed to maintain the viability of anaerobic bacteria in a clinical specimen?

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic transport vial with reducing agents

Answer

Cary-Blair medium

Answer

Stuart's medium

Answer

Amies medium

Question 3

A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen is collected from a patient suspected of having bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions should the laboratory technician prioritize upon receiving the specimen?

Accepted Answer

Process the specimen immediately for Gram stain and culture.

Answer

Refrigerate the specimen immediately for future testing.

Answer

Store the specimen at room temperature until other tests are ordered.

Answer

Incubate the specimen at 37°C for 2 hours before processing.

Question 4

When processing a urine specimen for bacterial culture, what is the generally accepted volume of uncentrifuged urine that should be inoculated onto a blood agar plate and a MacConkey agar plate using a calibrated loop?

Accepted Answer

0.01 mL

Answer

0.1 mL

Answer

1.0 mL

Answer

5.0 mL

Question 5

A stool specimen is received for ova and parasite (O&P) examination. Which of the following preparation methods is most appropriate for direct microscopic examination to identify motile trophozoites?

Accepted Answer

Wet mount with saline and iodine

Answer

Formalin-ethyl acetate concentration

Answer

Permanent stained smear

Answer

Zinc sulfate flotation

Question 6

Which of the following is the primary purpose of a rapid strep test (antigen detection) when processing a throat swab for suspected Streptococcus pyogenes infection?

Accepted Answer

To quickly detect Group A Streptococcus antigens for timely treatment.

Answer

To provide definitive identification and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Answer

To differentiate between viral and bacterial pharyngitis.

Answer

To enumerate the bacterial load in the throat.

A medical laboratory technician receives a sputum specimen for bacterial culture.Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step to assess the quality of the specimen before processing?

A medical laboratory technician receives a sputum specimen for bacterial culture.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step to assess the quality of the specimen before processing?