OSX Microbiology Test Bank Chapter 13 Exam Questions Practice Test Bank 2025/ 2026

OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth

Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth

* = Correct answer

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is not an example of a fomite?
A. catheter
B. doorknob
C. mosquitoes*
D. towels

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 13, 14, 23

2. HEPA filters are required for which Biological Safety Level (BSL)?
A. BSL 1
B. BSL 2
C. BSL 3
D. BSL 4*

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 37

3. From a clinical perspective, aseptic technique is carried out to do which of the following?
A. clean fomites
B. contaminate fomites
C. introduce contamination in living tissue
D. prevent contamination in living tissue*

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 36, 37

4. The autoclave uses which of the following mechanism(s) for sterilization?
A. pressure
B. temperature
C. pressure and temperature*
D. pressure, temperature, and pH

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37

5. Autoclaves are designed to kill which of the following heat-resistant microbes?
A. endospores*
B. prions
C. vegetative bacterial and fungal cells


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,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth

D. viruses

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37

6. The decimal reduction time (D-value) is how long it takes to kill which percentage of a
microbial population?
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 90%*
D. 100%

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14

7. Which of the following actions would be most clearly considered bacteriostatic rather than
bactericidal?
A. autoclaving bacterial cultures
B. placing a bacterial culture in the −80 C freezer*
C. spraying 70% alcohol on a laboratory bench
D. treating a mattress with ethylene oxide

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14

8. Microbial death follows which type of trend?
A. linear
B. logarithmic*
C. power series
D. variable

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14

9. Which of the following are the standard conditions for an autoclave?
A. 100 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
B. 121 C, 1 psi, 60 minutes
C. 121 C, 15 psi, 20 minutes*
D. 212 C, 15 psi, 10 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14, 36, 37

10. Which of the following is not a milkborne pathogen?
A. Escherichia coli O157:H7
B. Listeria monocytogenes


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, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 13: Control of Microbial Growth

C. Salmonella enterica
D. Yersinia pestis*

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23

11. For appropriate food storage in refrigerators, the temperature should be set to no higher than
which of the following?
A. 5 C
B. 7 C*
C. 9 C
D. 11 C

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14

12. How does pascalization control microbial growth?
A. by cross-linking proteins
B. by damaging DNA
C. by denaturing proteins*
D. by disrupting membrane integrity

Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 14

13. X-rays and gamma rays are examples of which type of radiation?
A. beta emission radiation
B. ionizing radiation*
C. nonionizing radiation
D. nonpenetrating radiation

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14

14. Ultraviolet light is an example of which type of radiation?
A. beta emission radiation
B. ionizing radiation
C. nonionizing radiation*
D. penetrating radiation

Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 14

15. To sterilize packaged intravenous tubing, which method would not be acceptable?
A. ethylene oxide
B. freezing


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