BIOL 271 MICROBIOLOGY
W/LAB MODULE 5 EXAM
REVIEW PORTAGE LEARNING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2026 .
,1. What precautions must be taken when handling unknown biological sam-ples?: Universal precautions must be taken,
treating all samples as potentially hazardous.
2. What is the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the lab?: PPE should always be used to protect handlers from potential
hazards.
3. What morphological characteristics should be noted when assessing a mi-crobial sample✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER
Size and shape of the microorganisms.
4. What should be observed regarding motility when analyzing a microbial sample✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The
presence of any observable motility under a microscope.
5. What methods can be used to document morphological characteristics✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Cap-turing images
or manually drawing observations.
6. What should be documented after differential testing of a microbial sam-ple✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Whether the
organism is Gram-positive or Gram-negative.
7. What chemical reactions should be noted during microbial analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Gas
production, fermentation, and any distinct color changes.
8. What is the significance of documenting observations in microbial analysis?-
: It aids in identifying the causative agent and selecting appropriate treatments.
9. What tool assists in identifying microorganisms based on their traits✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Dichoto-mous keys.
10. Which two well-known bacteria are mentioned for further discussion✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Strep-tococcus
and Staphylococcus.
11. What is the importance of differential techniques in microbial assessment?-
: They help in characterizing and identifying unknown microbial samples.
12. What should technicians do if they observe distinct changes in color during analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER
Document the changes localized to the organism or its surrounding media.
,13. What is the first step when an unknown biological sample arrives in the lab✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Take universal
precautions and treat it as potentially hazardous.
14. Why is it important to note the size and shape of microorganisms✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER These morphological
characteristics are critical for identification.
15. What is the purpose of capturing images during microbial analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER To provide visual
documentation of the observed characteristics.
16. What does the term 'Gram-positive' refer to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram
staining procedure.
, 17. What does the term 'Gram-negative' refer to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain and are
counterstained pink.
18. Dichotomous keys: Tools used by lab professionals to identify a microbe based on information gathered from staining, plating, biochemical assays, etc.
19. Infection: Occurs when a pathogen gains access to the body's tissues disrupting their normal physiology.
20. Entry: Pathogens use portals of entry, mucus membranes or parenteral entry, to gain access to host tissues.
21. Attachment: The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces by using its adhesin factors.
22. Invasion: The pathogen invades deeper into the host's tissues and secures nutrients for growth and multi-plication.
23. Evasion: To successfully multiply, the pathogen must evade immune system defenses.
24. Intracellular pathogen: A pathogen that 'hides' from immune cells by entering the host's cells.
25. Antigen mimicry: Producing surface molecules similar to the host's to evade immune detection.
26. Antigen variation: Changing its antigens over time to evade immune detection.
27. Undermining immune response: Avoiding phagocytosis or causing immune suppression.
28. Exit and transmission: Pathogens use a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host.
29. Modes of transmission: Can be direct or indirect.
30. Transmission precautions: Should be followed in addition to standard precautions depending on the mode of transmission.
31. Mode of transmission: How a pathogen can move from host to susceptible host.
32. Direct contact transmission: When the source of the pathogen makes physical contact with the susceptible host.
33. Indirect contact transmission: When transmission occurs without the susceptible host making physical contact with the infected host.
34. Portals of entry: The entry way for a pathogen to enter a new, susceptible host after exiting its current host.
35. What were universal precautions implemented in response to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The AIDS epi-demic
36. What organization expanded universal precautions to standard precau-tions✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The CDC
W/LAB MODULE 5 EXAM
REVIEW PORTAGE LEARNING
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2026 .
,1. What precautions must be taken when handling unknown biological sam-ples?: Universal precautions must be taken,
treating all samples as potentially hazardous.
2. What is the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the lab?: PPE should always be used to protect handlers from potential
hazards.
3. What morphological characteristics should be noted when assessing a mi-crobial sample✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER
Size and shape of the microorganisms.
4. What should be observed regarding motility when analyzing a microbial sample✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The
presence of any observable motility under a microscope.
5. What methods can be used to document morphological characteristics✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Cap-turing images
or manually drawing observations.
6. What should be documented after differential testing of a microbial sam-ple✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Whether the
organism is Gram-positive or Gram-negative.
7. What chemical reactions should be noted during microbial analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Gas
production, fermentation, and any distinct color changes.
8. What is the significance of documenting observations in microbial analysis?-
: It aids in identifying the causative agent and selecting appropriate treatments.
9. What tool assists in identifying microorganisms based on their traits✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Dichoto-mous keys.
10. Which two well-known bacteria are mentioned for further discussion✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Strep-tococcus
and Staphylococcus.
11. What is the importance of differential techniques in microbial assessment?-
: They help in characterizing and identifying unknown microbial samples.
12. What should technicians do if they observe distinct changes in color during analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER
Document the changes localized to the organism or its surrounding media.
,13. What is the first step when an unknown biological sample arrives in the lab✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Take universal
precautions and treat it as potentially hazardous.
14. Why is it important to note the size and shape of microorganisms✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER These morphological
characteristics are critical for identification.
15. What is the purpose of capturing images during microbial analysis✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER To provide visual
documentation of the observed characteristics.
16. What does the term 'Gram-positive' refer to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram
staining procedure.
, 17. What does the term 'Gram-negative' refer to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain and are
counterstained pink.
18. Dichotomous keys: Tools used by lab professionals to identify a microbe based on information gathered from staining, plating, biochemical assays, etc.
19. Infection: Occurs when a pathogen gains access to the body's tissues disrupting their normal physiology.
20. Entry: Pathogens use portals of entry, mucus membranes or parenteral entry, to gain access to host tissues.
21. Attachment: The pathogen attaches and binds to specific tissue surfaces by using its adhesin factors.
22. Invasion: The pathogen invades deeper into the host's tissues and secures nutrients for growth and multi-plication.
23. Evasion: To successfully multiply, the pathogen must evade immune system defenses.
24. Intracellular pathogen: A pathogen that 'hides' from immune cells by entering the host's cells.
25. Antigen mimicry: Producing surface molecules similar to the host's to evade immune detection.
26. Antigen variation: Changing its antigens over time to evade immune detection.
27. Undermining immune response: Avoiding phagocytosis or causing immune suppression.
28. Exit and transmission: Pathogens use a portal of exit to leave the host and be transmitted to a new host.
29. Modes of transmission: Can be direct or indirect.
30. Transmission precautions: Should be followed in addition to standard precautions depending on the mode of transmission.
31. Mode of transmission: How a pathogen can move from host to susceptible host.
32. Direct contact transmission: When the source of the pathogen makes physical contact with the susceptible host.
33. Indirect contact transmission: When transmission occurs without the susceptible host making physical contact with the infected host.
34. Portals of entry: The entry way for a pathogen to enter a new, susceptible host after exiting its current host.
35. What were universal precautions implemented in response to✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The AIDS epi-demic
36. What organization expanded universal precautions to standard precau-tions✔✔ CORRECT ANSWER The CDC
