Page 1 of 25
PLTW Medical Interventions Final Exam ACTUAL EXAM
2026-2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: Why is it important for doctors to know the concentration of the disease antigen
present in a patient's system? - ANSWER-Higher concentration = closer to patient zero
QUESTION: Patient Zero - ANSWER-The first person to be infected with a particular disease
QUESTION: What steps do scientists take to diagnose, treat, and prevent future spread of a
disease outbreak? - ANSWER-1. Record the symptoms
2. Locate the origin of the pathogen
3. Run tests to determine antibodies and antigens
4. Take preventative measures (quarantine, wash hands often, etc.)
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QUESTION: How were the following used in managing the outbreak on Sue Smith's campus:
PCR, Bioinformatics/BLAST, and ELISA? - ANSWER-These tests determine the concentration of
the disease, which lead to the source of the outbreak
QUESTION: Which part of the bacterial cell allows the bacteria to attach to specific surfaces? -
ANSWER-Adhesins, or cell-surface components/appendages of the bacteria that facilitate
attachment to other cells or surfaces
QUESTION: Which bacterial structure is involved with protein synthesis? - ANSWER-rRNA, tRNA,
and mRNA (Ribosomal, Transfer, Messenger)
QUESTION: What is an endotoxin? - ANSWER-A toxin that is inherently present inside a
bacterial cell
QUESTION: What is the structural difference between Gram positive and Gram negative
bacteria? - ANSWER-Gram positive:
•Purple
•Thick cell wall
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Gram negative:
•Pink
•Thin cell wall
Q; What is a medical intervention? - ANSWER-Any measure whose purpose is to improve health
or alter the course of a disease
QUESTION: What are the main categories of interventions that function to maintain human
health? - ANSWER-Treatments, Diagnostics and Equipment
QUESTION: How do scientists gather evidence during the potential outbreak of an infectious
disease? - ANSWER-1. Record patient's symptoms and find similarities with other patients
2. Isolate the bacteria in a lab
3. Go to affected areas and determine the origin of the disease
4. Identify the disease using DNA sequencing since pathogens alter certain DNA sequences
PLTW Medical Interventions Final Exam ACTUAL EXAM
2026-2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: Why is it important for doctors to know the concentration of the disease antigen
present in a patient's system? - ANSWER-Higher concentration = closer to patient zero
QUESTION: Patient Zero - ANSWER-The first person to be infected with a particular disease
QUESTION: What steps do scientists take to diagnose, treat, and prevent future spread of a
disease outbreak? - ANSWER-1. Record the symptoms
2. Locate the origin of the pathogen
3. Run tests to determine antibodies and antigens
4. Take preventative measures (quarantine, wash hands often, etc.)
,Page 2 of 25
QUESTION: How were the following used in managing the outbreak on Sue Smith's campus:
PCR, Bioinformatics/BLAST, and ELISA? - ANSWER-These tests determine the concentration of
the disease, which lead to the source of the outbreak
QUESTION: Which part of the bacterial cell allows the bacteria to attach to specific surfaces? -
ANSWER-Adhesins, or cell-surface components/appendages of the bacteria that facilitate
attachment to other cells or surfaces
QUESTION: Which bacterial structure is involved with protein synthesis? - ANSWER-rRNA, tRNA,
and mRNA (Ribosomal, Transfer, Messenger)
QUESTION: What is an endotoxin? - ANSWER-A toxin that is inherently present inside a
bacterial cell
QUESTION: What is the structural difference between Gram positive and Gram negative
bacteria? - ANSWER-Gram positive:
•Purple
•Thick cell wall
, Page 3 of 25
Gram negative:
•Pink
•Thin cell wall
Q; What is a medical intervention? - ANSWER-Any measure whose purpose is to improve health
or alter the course of a disease
QUESTION: What are the main categories of interventions that function to maintain human
health? - ANSWER-Treatments, Diagnostics and Equipment
QUESTION: How do scientists gather evidence during the potential outbreak of an infectious
disease? - ANSWER-1. Record patient's symptoms and find similarities with other patients
2. Isolate the bacteria in a lab
3. Go to affected areas and determine the origin of the disease
4. Identify the disease using DNA sequencing since pathogens alter certain DNA sequences
