M (ASCP) Exam Prep UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What's the common name for Bacillus anthracis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Anthrax
What are the 3 ways Anthrax is transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cutaneous
Gastrointestinal
Inhalational
Which is not a source anthrax can be found in?
Blood
Vesical fluid
Stool
Urine
CSF - CORRECT ANSWER - Urine
What is the gram stain morphology (simple) of Bacillus anthracis? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Gram positive rods (GPR)
Is anthrax fast growing or slow growing? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fast!
What hemolysis does Anthrax have? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gamma/non hemolysis
Can anthrax show hemolysis? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is non hemolytic, however,
because of how fast it grows, it can use up many nutrients quickly in the agar, causing what
seems to look like hemolysis
,"Ground glass, Medusa head, beaten egg whites and comet tails" describe the colony
morphology for what BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER - Bacillus anthracis
What morphological colony characteristic can occur to anthrax when grown in an environment
with lots of CO2 (such as co2 incub or w/ lots of SA)? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
colonies can become mucoid
Does bacillus anthracis produce spores? What are the stipulations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Yes. When grown in atmospheric o2 many spores are produced. As the
organism ages more spores are made.
When grown in a high CO2 environment, spore production decreases.
Is bacillus anthracis encapsulated? - CORRECT ANSWER - With direct smear, yes. When
grown on media, no.
How early can growth be seen for Anthrax? - CORRECT ANSWER - 8hrs --- for resp.
and stool cx
When encapsulated/from direct smear, anthrax cells look like __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - short chains
When not encapsulated/from growth on media, anthrax cells look like _______. - CORRECT
ANSWER - "lazy chains"
What biochemical test is positive for every BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Catalase
What biochemical test is negative for every BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Indole
Is Bacillus anthracis motile? - CORRECT ANSWER - No, it is non motile
, What disease is caused by Brucella spp.? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucellosis
What are the four spp. of Brucella? - CORRECT ANSWER - Suis
Melitensis
Canis
Abortus
Which two spp. of Brucella effect humans the most? - CORRECT ANSWER - Melitensis
and Suis
Which BT organism can be transmitted via unpasteurized dairy products, inhalation or contact
with infected blood, bm, liver, spleen or reproductive organs? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Brucella
Can Brucella be transmitted person to person? - CORRECT ANSWER - No
Which BT organism causes abscesses on spleen? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucella
What is the simple gram stain morphology for Brucella? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Pleiomorphic
Which biochemical test is most important when presumptively id'ing Brucella spp. ? Why? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Urease. All spp. of Brucella are + immediately or overnight.
This BT organisms colonies are often misidentified as Moraxella, "non hemolytic slow growing
staph" or non pigmented micrococcus. - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucella
Which media is best to use when looking for Brucella in specimens with potentially mixed
organism? - CORRECT ANSWER - MTM
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What's the common name for Bacillus anthracis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Anthrax
What are the 3 ways Anthrax is transmitted? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cutaneous
Gastrointestinal
Inhalational
Which is not a source anthrax can be found in?
Blood
Vesical fluid
Stool
Urine
CSF - CORRECT ANSWER - Urine
What is the gram stain morphology (simple) of Bacillus anthracis? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Gram positive rods (GPR)
Is anthrax fast growing or slow growing? - CORRECT ANSWER - Fast!
What hemolysis does Anthrax have? - CORRECT ANSWER - Gamma/non hemolysis
Can anthrax show hemolysis? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is non hemolytic, however,
because of how fast it grows, it can use up many nutrients quickly in the agar, causing what
seems to look like hemolysis
,"Ground glass, Medusa head, beaten egg whites and comet tails" describe the colony
morphology for what BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER - Bacillus anthracis
What morphological colony characteristic can occur to anthrax when grown in an environment
with lots of CO2 (such as co2 incub or w/ lots of SA)? - CORRECT ANSWER - The
colonies can become mucoid
Does bacillus anthracis produce spores? What are the stipulations? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Yes. When grown in atmospheric o2 many spores are produced. As the
organism ages more spores are made.
When grown in a high CO2 environment, spore production decreases.
Is bacillus anthracis encapsulated? - CORRECT ANSWER - With direct smear, yes. When
grown on media, no.
How early can growth be seen for Anthrax? - CORRECT ANSWER - 8hrs --- for resp.
and stool cx
When encapsulated/from direct smear, anthrax cells look like __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - short chains
When not encapsulated/from growth on media, anthrax cells look like _______. - CORRECT
ANSWER - "lazy chains"
What biochemical test is positive for every BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Catalase
What biochemical test is negative for every BT organism? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Indole
Is Bacillus anthracis motile? - CORRECT ANSWER - No, it is non motile
, What disease is caused by Brucella spp.? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucellosis
What are the four spp. of Brucella? - CORRECT ANSWER - Suis
Melitensis
Canis
Abortus
Which two spp. of Brucella effect humans the most? - CORRECT ANSWER - Melitensis
and Suis
Which BT organism can be transmitted via unpasteurized dairy products, inhalation or contact
with infected blood, bm, liver, spleen or reproductive organs? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Brucella
Can Brucella be transmitted person to person? - CORRECT ANSWER - No
Which BT organism causes abscesses on spleen? - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucella
What is the simple gram stain morphology for Brucella? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Pleiomorphic
Which biochemical test is most important when presumptively id'ing Brucella spp. ? Why? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Urease. All spp. of Brucella are + immediately or overnight.
This BT organisms colonies are often misidentified as Moraxella, "non hemolytic slow growing
staph" or non pigmented micrococcus. - CORRECT ANSWER - Brucella
Which media is best to use when looking for Brucella in specimens with potentially mixed
organism? - CORRECT ANSWER - MTM
