MCQs on Specimens collection and management in laboratories,hospitals and other clinical sites: Medical microbiology

         MCQs on Specimens collection and management: Medical microbiology

1. What is the preferred method for collecting blood specimens for blood culture to detect bacterial infections?
a) Fingerstick
b) Saliva collection
c) Swabbing the skin surface
d) Venipuncture    

2. Which of the following is NOT a common site for collecting a throat swab specimen?
a)  Abdominal cavity    
b) Posterior pharyngeal wall
c) Nasopharynx
d) Tonsils

3. When collecting a wound specimen for culture, which step is essential to minimize contamination?
a) Avoiding gloves
b) Cleaning the wound with sterile saline    
c) Collecting the specimen after applying antiseptics
d) Using a non-sterile container

4. Which of the following is a suitable transport medium for stool specimens in cases of suspected bacterial enteric pathogens?
a) Buffered glycerol saline   
b) Cotton swab
c) Dry container
d) Urine container

5. Which of the following is NOT a standard precaution when handling clinical specimens in the laboratory?
a) Ensuring proper specimen labeling

b) Leaving specimen containers open to allow for ventilation    
c) Minimizing aerosol generation

d) Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)

6. What is the ideal temperature range for transporting and storing most clinical specimens before they reach the laboratory?
a) Body temperature (37°C)

b) Freezing (-20°C)
c) Refrigerated (2-8°C)
d) Room temperature (20-25°C)     

7. What is the recommended timeframe for transporting specimens to the laboratory from the collection point?

a) Within 2 hours    

b) Within 6 hours

c) Within 24 hours

d) Within 48 hours

8. What should be included in the information provided to nursing staff and clinicians regarding specimen collection?

a) Safety considerations and patient history

b) Transportation instructions and specimen storage guidelines   

c) Patient demographic information and specimen color

d) Preferred antibiotics for specimen preservation

9. What type of bags are commonly used for transporting specimens and paperwork separately?

a) Paper bags

b) Glass bags

c) Plastic bags    

d) Fabric bags

10. Which of the following is NOT a key consideration when collecting clinical specimens for microbiological testing?

a) Proper labeling

b) Timely transport to the laboratory

c) Collection in a sterile container

d) Handling without gloves to avoid contamination   

11. Which of the following is NOT part of the essential information for nursing staff and clinicians when collecting specimens?

a) Sterile versus nonsterile collection devices

b) Patient's favorite color    

c) Special instructions for patient preparation

d) Selection of the appropriate anatomic site

12. Why is labeling with a minimum of two patient identifiers important when collecting specimens?

a) To determine the patient's favorite color

b) To ensure the specimen is stored at the right temperature

c) To accurately identify the patient the specimen belongs to     

d) To select the appropriate swab for collection

13. What type of information should be provided regarding the selection of the appropriate anatomic site for specimen collection?

a) Patient's medical history

b) Patient's dietary preferences

c) Patient's preferred mode of transportation

d) Clinical indications for specimen collection    

14. Which of the following is a safety consideration when collecting specimens?

a) The patient's dietary restrictions

b) The patient's blood type

c) The use of personal protective equipment (PPE)    

d) The patient's favorite movie

15. What information is crucial in transportation instructions for collected specimens?

a) The patient's preferred method of communication

b) Time and temperature constraints    

c) The patient's weight

d) None of the above

16. Which environmental condition can affect the viability of anaerobic bacteria during specimen transportation?

a) High humidity

b) Low temperature

c) Low light

d) Presence of oxygen    

17. What important label should be affixed to bags used for transporting clinical specimens?

a) Biohazard label     

b) Laboratory barcode label

c) Manufacturer's label

d) Patient identification label

18. In which circumstance would you collect a sterile body fluid specimen for microbiological analysis?
a) Detection of viral antibodies
b) Diagnosis of a fungal skin infection
c) Routine check-up

d) Suspected bacterial meningitis    

19. Which of the following microorganisms may require special transportation conditions due to sensitivity to changes in temperature?

a)  Escherichia coli

b) Neisseria meningitidis      

c) Streptococcus spp   

d) Salmonella typhi

20. Why are anticoagulants used in specimen collection for microbiological testing, such as blood, bone marrow, and synovial fluid?

a) To prevent clotting and allow for the isolation of microorganisms

b) To prevent the growth of microorganisms

c) To enhance the color of the specimen

d) To accelerate the growth of microorganisms

21. What is the typical concentration of sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) used as an anticoagulant in microbiological specimen collection?

a) 0.001%

b) 0.01%

c) 0.025%

d) 0.1%

22. Which anticoagulant is commonly used for viral cultures but may inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria and yeast?

a) Citrate

b) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

c) Heparin

d) Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS)

23. In cases where mislabeling or errors are suspected with a specimen collected through an invasive technique, what is the preferred approach for correcting the problem?

a) Calling the laboratory and requesting a correction

b) Having the person who collected the specimen and filled out the paperwork come to the laboratory to correct the issue

c) Discarding the specimen and collecting a new one

d) Sending an email to the healthcare team

24. 

Answers:

1. d) Venipuncture

2. a)  Abdominal cavity    

3. b) Cleaning the wound with sterile saline

4. a) Buffered glycerol saline

5. b) Leaving specimen containers open to allow for ventilation    

6. d) Room temperature (20-25°C)  

7. a) Within 2 hours 

8. b) Transportation instructions and specimen storage guidelines

9. c) Plastic bags

10. d) Handling without gloves to avoid contamination

11. b) Patient's favorite color

12. c) To accurately identify the patient the specimen belongs to

13. d) Clinical indications for specimen collection

14. c) The use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

15. b) Time and temperature constraints

16. d) Presence of oxygen

17. a) Biohazard label

18. d) Suspected bacterial meningitis 

19. b) Neisseria meningitidis   

20. a) To prevent clotting and allow for the isolation of microorganisms

21. c) 0.025%

22. c) Heparin

23. b) Having the person who collected the specimen and filled out the paperwork come to the laboratory to correct the issue