OSMT Prep - All Subjects Questions and
Answers
During tissue processing, what is the correct sequence of steps ?
a) clearing, dehydration, infiltration
b) clearing, infiltration, dehydration
c) dehydration, infiltration, clearing
d) dehydration, clearing, infiltration - Answer -d) dehydration, clearing, infiltration
If a person has A- blood, who can they receive from within the ABO blood group? -
Answer -A-, AB-
What is the purpose of fixation? - Answer -To stabilize proteins & colloidal material in
cells/tissues so that it becomes resistant to change/remains as lifelike as possible
Why is pure water neutral on the pH scale? - Answer -Water has equal amounts of
hydrogen and hydroxide atoms, therefore it is able to self ionize.
How can the formation of paraformaldehyde be avoided - Answer -Additives to formalin
such as buffers or methanol
What tube would be used to draw blood from a patient being tested for hematocrit? -
Answer -Lavender
What is a compound fixative? - Answer -Composed of 2 or more primary fixatives.
What is the normal pH of blood? - Answer -7.35-7.45
How many stool samples must be collected for an ova & parasites exam? Why? -
Answer -3 different samples from 3 different days because parasites can appear
sporadically.
What is serum used for in culture media? - Answer -Can either enrich or solidify media.
What is inspissation? - Answer -The process of denaturing & coagulating serum by
heating to 85 Celsius
What is basic (nutrient) media? - Answer -Contains common nutritional ingredients to
support the growth of non-fastidious organisms. Not normally plate media.
,What primary basic ingredient provides a carbon & energy source for bacteria growth? -
Answer -Carbohydrates (glucose)
Appromixmately how much blood is in a human adult body? - Answer -5L
What is the most common stain used for cytology testing? - Answer -PAP smear
(Papinicolaou's staining technique)
What are the four basic types of tissue? - Answer -Epithelial, connective, muscular,
nervous
A movement that takes a body part further away from it's central axis is called a(n): -
Answer -Abduction
Incomplete, partial hemolysis around bacterial colonies on a growth plate is called:
a) Alpha hemolysis
b) Beta hemolysis
c) Gamma hemolysis - Answer -a) Alpha hemolysis
What antiseptic is used to clean the venipuncture site? - Answer -70% isopropyl alcohol
Where are red blood cells produced in a fetus? - Answer -The liver
What does mean measure? - Answer -The average value of numbers within a set
What is a chromogen? - Answer -Added to media as an indicator by changing the colour
of a bacterial colony.
What colour would a Gram positive be? - Answer -purple-blue
What is a buffer system? - Answer -Helps to maintain a relatively constant pH. Chemical
compounds that covert strong acids and bases into weak ones.
What dye is used as the primary stain when performing a Gram Stain? - Answer -
Crystal/Gentian Violet
What is a blastoconidia? - Answer -Buds/ 'daughter cells' of yeasts. They can extend to
form a chain-like structure called pseudohyphae.
What is added to MacConkey plate media to make it selective? - Answer -Crystal violet
and bile salts inhibit the growth of gram positive bacteria
What is a protozoa? - Answer -Single-celled & microscopic, can infect most body sites.
, What is agglutination? - Answer -Clumping/aggregation of cells as a result of a reaction
with a specific antibody.
Why would a sputum sample be collected? - Answer -To help determine the presence
of microorganisms that can cause respiratory diseases. (bronchitis, pneumonia, TB)
What is the decolourizer used in the PAP stain? - Answer -Acid Alcohol
What are the two types of cardiac cells? - Answer -Mechanical and electrical
(pacemaker) cells
What type of microorganisms require live cell media? - Answer -Viruses (they need a
live host in order to multiply)
What is a helminth? - Answer -Parasitic worm that commonly infects the GI tract.
Why is starch commonly found in antimicrobial sensitivity testing media? - Answer -
Absorbs toxic by-products of bacteria that can interfere with the growth of other
bacteria/sensitivity testing.
What plate media would be used to isolate gonorrhea & meningitis? - Answer -Thayer-
Martin
Why is the Geimsa stain required for specimens containing potential Chlamydia
bacteria? - Answer -Chlamydia lacks a cell wall, therefore if Gram stain is performed,
results will always show up as Gram negative.
What is the purpose of immunoassay testing? - Answer -Detects low levels of antigens
Why must sterile distilled water be used for culture media? - Answer -Impurities in non-
sterile water may inhibit bacterial growth
In culture media, how are bile salts used as a selective agent? - Answer -Bile emulsifies
fat, which means it will inhibit most Gram positive bacteria.
Only allows for the growth of Gram negative bacteria.
What is a titer? - Answer -A serial dilution of a liquid sample to help determine the
approximate level of antibodies present in the sample.
Name 4 reasons for ordering a wound culture. - Answer -1. failure to heal
2. signs of infection
3. discharge
4. nonrespondent to antobiotic therapy
What type of bacteria require a ZN Stain? - Answer -Mycobacterium species (acid fast
bacteria)
Answers
During tissue processing, what is the correct sequence of steps ?
a) clearing, dehydration, infiltration
b) clearing, infiltration, dehydration
c) dehydration, infiltration, clearing
d) dehydration, clearing, infiltration - Answer -d) dehydration, clearing, infiltration
If a person has A- blood, who can they receive from within the ABO blood group? -
Answer -A-, AB-
What is the purpose of fixation? - Answer -To stabilize proteins & colloidal material in
cells/tissues so that it becomes resistant to change/remains as lifelike as possible
Why is pure water neutral on the pH scale? - Answer -Water has equal amounts of
hydrogen and hydroxide atoms, therefore it is able to self ionize.
How can the formation of paraformaldehyde be avoided - Answer -Additives to formalin
such as buffers or methanol
What tube would be used to draw blood from a patient being tested for hematocrit? -
Answer -Lavender
What is a compound fixative? - Answer -Composed of 2 or more primary fixatives.
What is the normal pH of blood? - Answer -7.35-7.45
How many stool samples must be collected for an ova & parasites exam? Why? -
Answer -3 different samples from 3 different days because parasites can appear
sporadically.
What is serum used for in culture media? - Answer -Can either enrich or solidify media.
What is inspissation? - Answer -The process of denaturing & coagulating serum by
heating to 85 Celsius
What is basic (nutrient) media? - Answer -Contains common nutritional ingredients to
support the growth of non-fastidious organisms. Not normally plate media.
,What primary basic ingredient provides a carbon & energy source for bacteria growth? -
Answer -Carbohydrates (glucose)
Appromixmately how much blood is in a human adult body? - Answer -5L
What is the most common stain used for cytology testing? - Answer -PAP smear
(Papinicolaou's staining technique)
What are the four basic types of tissue? - Answer -Epithelial, connective, muscular,
nervous
A movement that takes a body part further away from it's central axis is called a(n): -
Answer -Abduction
Incomplete, partial hemolysis around bacterial colonies on a growth plate is called:
a) Alpha hemolysis
b) Beta hemolysis
c) Gamma hemolysis - Answer -a) Alpha hemolysis
What antiseptic is used to clean the venipuncture site? - Answer -70% isopropyl alcohol
Where are red blood cells produced in a fetus? - Answer -The liver
What does mean measure? - Answer -The average value of numbers within a set
What is a chromogen? - Answer -Added to media as an indicator by changing the colour
of a bacterial colony.
What colour would a Gram positive be? - Answer -purple-blue
What is a buffer system? - Answer -Helps to maintain a relatively constant pH. Chemical
compounds that covert strong acids and bases into weak ones.
What dye is used as the primary stain when performing a Gram Stain? - Answer -
Crystal/Gentian Violet
What is a blastoconidia? - Answer -Buds/ 'daughter cells' of yeasts. They can extend to
form a chain-like structure called pseudohyphae.
What is added to MacConkey plate media to make it selective? - Answer -Crystal violet
and bile salts inhibit the growth of gram positive bacteria
What is a protozoa? - Answer -Single-celled & microscopic, can infect most body sites.
, What is agglutination? - Answer -Clumping/aggregation of cells as a result of a reaction
with a specific antibody.
Why would a sputum sample be collected? - Answer -To help determine the presence
of microorganisms that can cause respiratory diseases. (bronchitis, pneumonia, TB)
What is the decolourizer used in the PAP stain? - Answer -Acid Alcohol
What are the two types of cardiac cells? - Answer -Mechanical and electrical
(pacemaker) cells
What type of microorganisms require live cell media? - Answer -Viruses (they need a
live host in order to multiply)
What is a helminth? - Answer -Parasitic worm that commonly infects the GI tract.
Why is starch commonly found in antimicrobial sensitivity testing media? - Answer -
Absorbs toxic by-products of bacteria that can interfere with the growth of other
bacteria/sensitivity testing.
What plate media would be used to isolate gonorrhea & meningitis? - Answer -Thayer-
Martin
Why is the Geimsa stain required for specimens containing potential Chlamydia
bacteria? - Answer -Chlamydia lacks a cell wall, therefore if Gram stain is performed,
results will always show up as Gram negative.
What is the purpose of immunoassay testing? - Answer -Detects low levels of antigens
Why must sterile distilled water be used for culture media? - Answer -Impurities in non-
sterile water may inhibit bacterial growth
In culture media, how are bile salts used as a selective agent? - Answer -Bile emulsifies
fat, which means it will inhibit most Gram positive bacteria.
Only allows for the growth of Gram negative bacteria.
What is a titer? - Answer -A serial dilution of a liquid sample to help determine the
approximate level of antibodies present in the sample.
Name 4 reasons for ordering a wound culture. - Answer -1. failure to heal
2. signs of infection
3. discharge
4. nonrespondent to antobiotic therapy
What type of bacteria require a ZN Stain? - Answer -Mycobacterium species (acid fast
bacteria)
