Prepare for the AMT Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) Exam with a focused microbiology review covering bacterial structure, classification, growth requirements, cellular processes, bacterial morphology, and laboratory staining techniques. This study resource reviews essential microbiology terminology, including bacteria, autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, pathogenicity, flagella, phagocytosis, bacteriophages, osmosis, semipermeable membranes, cytoplasm, cell walls, capsules, pili, spores, and the function of the nucleus. Strengthen your understanding of microbial oxygen requirements and environmental preferences, including aerobic organisms, anaerobic organisms, facultative anaerobes, microaerophilic organisms, mesophiles, and thermophiles. The material also covers bacterial shapes and arrangements, including cocci, bacilli, spirilla, vibrios, and spirochetes, alongside important diagnostic staining methods. Review Gram staining and the distinction between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, acid-fast staining for organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, fluorescent antibody staining, Giemsa-Wright staining, and India ink staining for Cryptococcus neoformans. Examples of medically important organisms include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Listeria, Borrelia, Plasmodium, Rickettsia, Trypanosomes, and Chlamydia. Designed for medical laboratory science students, MLS certification candidates, and clinical microbiology learners, this review helps reinforce key definitions, microbial characteristics, and laboratory identification concepts for exam preparation. Updated for the 2026/2027 study period and available for convenient digital access.
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AMT MLS Exam
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2026
,Bacteria
single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes
Autotrophic
Organisms that make their own food
Heterotrophic
Organisms that obtain their nutrients or food from consuming other organisms.
pathogenic
causing disease
Flagella
whiplike tails found in one-celled organisms to aid in movement
Phagocytosis
Cell eating
,Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria
Mesophilic
thriving in a moderate environment
Osmosis
Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
Semipermeable
some substances can pass directly through the cell membrane by passive
or active transport
Cytoplasm
A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended
cell wall/ membrane
forms the outer layer of the cell
, Microaerophilic
requires only a small amount of oxygen
facultative anaerobes
can live with or without oxygen
Facultative areobe
an organism that can live with or without oxygen
Thermophilic
heat loving
capsule
A sticky layer that surrounds the cell walls of some bacteria, protecting the
cell surface and sometimes helping to glue the cell to surfaces.
ambient
(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing
Nucleus
Control center of the cell
spore
A reproductive cell with a hard, protective coating