Microbiology Lab Midterm (Labs 1-4)
Auburn Questions with Complete
Rationales 2026-2027 Update.
these 3 things are personal protection equipment (PPE) requirements - Answer wear closed
toed shoes, gloves and lab coat while in the lab
what disinfectant is used in the lab? - Answer lysol
where are items disposed of that have been in contact with bacteria? (ex: petri plates, gloves
etc.) - Answer biohazard can
where are slides, swabs and pipettes disposed of? - Answer sharps container
where does glassware (flasks, beakers, bottles and test tubes) go after use? - Answer discard
cart
where do items that are not contaminated with bacteria (gum, paper products, items brought
into laboratory) go to be disposed? - Answer regular garbage can
these are microorganisms not known to cause disease in healthy adults - Answer BSL 1
these are indigenous microorganisms that can lead to diseases of varying severity in healthy
adults. (ex: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Salmonella) - Answer BSL 2
these are indigenous or exotic microorganisms that cause serious or potentially lethal disease
through respiratory transmission (ex: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella
tularensis) - Answer BSL 3
these are microorganisms that are dangerous and exotic with a high risk or aerosol transmitted
infections. Rarely are there treatments or vaccines for these microorganisms, and the diseases
they cause are frequently fatal (ex: Ebola virus, Marburg virus) - Answer BSL 4
this is a general term for living organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope, even
though some people include viruses and porins in this group - Answer microorganisms
this refers to the concept that microorganisms are everywhere (air, food, water) and they are
only not found where they are intentionally excluded - Answer ubiquity of microorganisms
, practicing aseptic technique prevents contaminating these 3 things: - Answer yourself, others,
and the media/ microorganisms
these destroy vegetative cells and viruses but may not destroy endospores - Answer
disinfectants
these are used to transfer cultures of bacteria - Answer loops and needles
this is a sterilization technique where you place your utensils into the flame of the bunsen
burner until it is red hot - Answer flaming the loop
how long should you wait for your utensil to cool after flaming? - Answer 15-20 seconds
how do you aseptically remove the cap from a test tube? - Answer using the pinky finger of
your dominant hand
how do you sterilize a test tube? - Answer flaming the mouth of the tube before and after you
inoculate it with bacteria
what is the correct orientation for a petri plate? - Answer lid down, bottom up
where and when was the first microscope developed? - Answer Middleburg, Holland in 1590
this microscope is the simplest form of microscopy where light is either passed through, or
reflected off a specimen. Illumination is not altered by devices that change the properties of
light (such as polarizers or filters)-- requires the use of stains to visualize cells - Answer bright
field
this microscope converts the differences in optical density (refractive index) of cells into
different shades of brightness (contrast). It allows for the visualization of morphology, external
structures and some internal structures-- stains are not required - Answer phase contrast
this microscope's contrast is created by a bright specimen on a dark background. it is ideal for
revealing morphology and external structures, but it does not provide a great deal of
information about internal structures-- stain is not required - Answer dark field
this microscope uses high intensity illumination to excite fluorescent molecules (fluorophores)
in the sample. when a molecule absorbs photons, electrons are excited to a higher energy level.
Auburn Questions with Complete
Rationales 2026-2027 Update.
these 3 things are personal protection equipment (PPE) requirements - Answer wear closed
toed shoes, gloves and lab coat while in the lab
what disinfectant is used in the lab? - Answer lysol
where are items disposed of that have been in contact with bacteria? (ex: petri plates, gloves
etc.) - Answer biohazard can
where are slides, swabs and pipettes disposed of? - Answer sharps container
where does glassware (flasks, beakers, bottles and test tubes) go after use? - Answer discard
cart
where do items that are not contaminated with bacteria (gum, paper products, items brought
into laboratory) go to be disposed? - Answer regular garbage can
these are microorganisms not known to cause disease in healthy adults - Answer BSL 1
these are indigenous microorganisms that can lead to diseases of varying severity in healthy
adults. (ex: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Salmonella) - Answer BSL 2
these are indigenous or exotic microorganisms that cause serious or potentially lethal disease
through respiratory transmission (ex: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Francisella
tularensis) - Answer BSL 3
these are microorganisms that are dangerous and exotic with a high risk or aerosol transmitted
infections. Rarely are there treatments or vaccines for these microorganisms, and the diseases
they cause are frequently fatal (ex: Ebola virus, Marburg virus) - Answer BSL 4
this is a general term for living organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope, even
though some people include viruses and porins in this group - Answer microorganisms
this refers to the concept that microorganisms are everywhere (air, food, water) and they are
only not found where they are intentionally excluded - Answer ubiquity of microorganisms
, practicing aseptic technique prevents contaminating these 3 things: - Answer yourself, others,
and the media/ microorganisms
these destroy vegetative cells and viruses but may not destroy endospores - Answer
disinfectants
these are used to transfer cultures of bacteria - Answer loops and needles
this is a sterilization technique where you place your utensils into the flame of the bunsen
burner until it is red hot - Answer flaming the loop
how long should you wait for your utensil to cool after flaming? - Answer 15-20 seconds
how do you aseptically remove the cap from a test tube? - Answer using the pinky finger of
your dominant hand
how do you sterilize a test tube? - Answer flaming the mouth of the tube before and after you
inoculate it with bacteria
what is the correct orientation for a petri plate? - Answer lid down, bottom up
where and when was the first microscope developed? - Answer Middleburg, Holland in 1590
this microscope is the simplest form of microscopy where light is either passed through, or
reflected off a specimen. Illumination is not altered by devices that change the properties of
light (such as polarizers or filters)-- requires the use of stains to visualize cells - Answer bright
field
this microscope converts the differences in optical density (refractive index) of cells into
different shades of brightness (contrast). It allows for the visualization of morphology, external
structures and some internal structures-- stains are not required - Answer phase contrast
this microscope's contrast is created by a bright specimen on a dark background. it is ideal for
revealing morphology and external structures, but it does not provide a great deal of
information about internal structures-- stain is not required - Answer dark field
this microscope uses high intensity illumination to excite fluorescent molecules (fluorophores)
in the sample. when a molecule absorbs photons, electrons are excited to a higher energy level.
