UAMS Microbiology Exam 1 Newest 2026
Questions and Correct Detailed Answers
Already Graded A+
Gram stain, culture, organism identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility. -
CORRECT ANSWER-In the health care system, the physician consults with the
patient and retrieves a specimen. The specimen is then sent to the lab, a report is
generated, and the report is sent to the physician. What are the 4 things included
in the report from the micro lab?
Specimen collection. It is a tube closed on the bottom and open at the top with
swabs inserted into the culturette container. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is a
culturette used for?
Collect the specimen with a culturette tube, plate it using either an agar or broth
medium, incubate the culture, and then ID. Determine antimicrobial susceptibility
and report results. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the complete procedure done
by the lab for collecting and then identifying an organism?
Coccus, coccobacillus, vibrio, bacillus, spirillum, and spirochete. - CORRECT
ANSWER-What are the different morphologies of bacteria?
,Coccus (one single colony), diplococci (two colonies), staphylococci (multiple
colonies in a triangle shape), streptococci (multiple colonies in a linear row),
sarcina (multiple colonies that can be on top of one another in a square shape),
and tetrad (four colonies in a square). - CORRECT ANSWER-What are the
different bacterial arrangements for cocci?
Rod shaped. The genus (Bacillus anthracis). Single bacillus, diplobacilli,
streptobacilli, and palisade (rods laid side by side, forming a fence-like
appearance; can also be V-shaped). - CORRECT ANSWER-What does bacillus or
bacilli refer to? What about Bacillus? What are the bacilli arrangements?
Bacteria that is capable of altering its morphology to take on many different
shapes. - CORRECT ANSWER-What does the term pleomorphic refer to? Ex.
Pleomorphic bacilli
Spores are cells with very thick walls that can survive many extremes, allowing a
bacterium protection in order to preserve its genetic material. - CORRECT
ANSWER-What are spores and what do they allow a bacterium, such as bacilli
with spores?
,Filamentous and fusiform. - CORRECT ANSWER-What are the two different
forms of bacilli rods?
Hans Christian Gram. Crystal violet, iodine, decolorizer, and safranin. The cell wall
structure of the bacteria is what determines if it is gram pos or neg. The thick
peptidoglycan layer on gram pos MOs retains the crystal violet-iodine complex.
On gram neg MOs, there is only a thin layer of peptidoglycan under a layer of
lipids. The lipid layer retains the stain and the decolorizer then dissolves the lipid
layer, removing the crystal violet-iodine complex. - CORRECT ANSWER-Who
invented the Gram stain and staining method? What are the reagents involved?
How is Gram stain able to work? What makes some bacteria gram pos and others
neg?
Safranin. Once the decolorizer dissolves the lipid layer holding the crystal violet-
iodine complex, the safranin is able to stain the thin peptidoglycan layer
underneath, causing the bacteria to appear pink. The pink bacteria can then be
identified as Gram neg. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the counter stain that is
used alongside Gram stain to identify the Gram neg bacteria? How does this
work?
Cells from a culture are taken and spread over a thin area of a slide and then heat
fixed. The smear doesn't need to be too thin or too thick, otherwise it will be
unable to be read properly. Smears are heat fixed using a bunsen burner, an
, electric incinerator, or methanol. This is done to kill the bacteria on the slide,
prevent bacteria from washing off the slide, and allowing the smear to take up
stain better. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is smear? What is important when
preparing a smear? How are smears heat fixed and why?
Place the slide on a staining rack and cover the smear with crystal violet solution.
Let stand for 30-60 seconds. Rinse with tap water to remove the crystal violet,
then shake off excess water. Cover the smear with Gram's iodine and let stand for
30-60 seconds. Rinse with water, then shale off excess. Decolorize the smear with
acetone-alcohol and rinse with water as soon as the purple/blue color no longer
runs off the slide. *Be careful to not over or under decolorize* Shake off excess
water and counterstain with safranin for 30 seconds, rinse with water, and dry
slide by air or by blotting. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the Gram staining
procedure?
Gram neg cells such as human cells will appear washed out and gram pos bacteria
will appear gram neg or partially stained. Gram neg cells such as human cells will
appear dark red / purple and other gram neg bacteria appear gram pos. -
CORRECT ANSWER-What will happen is the decolorizer is left on too long?
What about under-decolorized?
Damaged cells are a potential problem when looking at older culture, they will not
take up stain. This can be due to antibiotics. Overheating a slide distorts cells from
Questions and Correct Detailed Answers
Already Graded A+
Gram stain, culture, organism identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility. -
CORRECT ANSWER-In the health care system, the physician consults with the
patient and retrieves a specimen. The specimen is then sent to the lab, a report is
generated, and the report is sent to the physician. What are the 4 things included
in the report from the micro lab?
Specimen collection. It is a tube closed on the bottom and open at the top with
swabs inserted into the culturette container. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is a
culturette used for?
Collect the specimen with a culturette tube, plate it using either an agar or broth
medium, incubate the culture, and then ID. Determine antimicrobial susceptibility
and report results. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the complete procedure done
by the lab for collecting and then identifying an organism?
Coccus, coccobacillus, vibrio, bacillus, spirillum, and spirochete. - CORRECT
ANSWER-What are the different morphologies of bacteria?
,Coccus (one single colony), diplococci (two colonies), staphylococci (multiple
colonies in a triangle shape), streptococci (multiple colonies in a linear row),
sarcina (multiple colonies that can be on top of one another in a square shape),
and tetrad (four colonies in a square). - CORRECT ANSWER-What are the
different bacterial arrangements for cocci?
Rod shaped. The genus (Bacillus anthracis). Single bacillus, diplobacilli,
streptobacilli, and palisade (rods laid side by side, forming a fence-like
appearance; can also be V-shaped). - CORRECT ANSWER-What does bacillus or
bacilli refer to? What about Bacillus? What are the bacilli arrangements?
Bacteria that is capable of altering its morphology to take on many different
shapes. - CORRECT ANSWER-What does the term pleomorphic refer to? Ex.
Pleomorphic bacilli
Spores are cells with very thick walls that can survive many extremes, allowing a
bacterium protection in order to preserve its genetic material. - CORRECT
ANSWER-What are spores and what do they allow a bacterium, such as bacilli
with spores?
,Filamentous and fusiform. - CORRECT ANSWER-What are the two different
forms of bacilli rods?
Hans Christian Gram. Crystal violet, iodine, decolorizer, and safranin. The cell wall
structure of the bacteria is what determines if it is gram pos or neg. The thick
peptidoglycan layer on gram pos MOs retains the crystal violet-iodine complex.
On gram neg MOs, there is only a thin layer of peptidoglycan under a layer of
lipids. The lipid layer retains the stain and the decolorizer then dissolves the lipid
layer, removing the crystal violet-iodine complex. - CORRECT ANSWER-Who
invented the Gram stain and staining method? What are the reagents involved?
How is Gram stain able to work? What makes some bacteria gram pos and others
neg?
Safranin. Once the decolorizer dissolves the lipid layer holding the crystal violet-
iodine complex, the safranin is able to stain the thin peptidoglycan layer
underneath, causing the bacteria to appear pink. The pink bacteria can then be
identified as Gram neg. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the counter stain that is
used alongside Gram stain to identify the Gram neg bacteria? How does this
work?
Cells from a culture are taken and spread over a thin area of a slide and then heat
fixed. The smear doesn't need to be too thin or too thick, otherwise it will be
unable to be read properly. Smears are heat fixed using a bunsen burner, an
, electric incinerator, or methanol. This is done to kill the bacteria on the slide,
prevent bacteria from washing off the slide, and allowing the smear to take up
stain better. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is smear? What is important when
preparing a smear? How are smears heat fixed and why?
Place the slide on a staining rack and cover the smear with crystal violet solution.
Let stand for 30-60 seconds. Rinse with tap water to remove the crystal violet,
then shake off excess water. Cover the smear with Gram's iodine and let stand for
30-60 seconds. Rinse with water, then shale off excess. Decolorize the smear with
acetone-alcohol and rinse with water as soon as the purple/blue color no longer
runs off the slide. *Be careful to not over or under decolorize* Shake off excess
water and counterstain with safranin for 30 seconds, rinse with water, and dry
slide by air or by blotting. - CORRECT ANSWER-What is the Gram staining
procedure?
Gram neg cells such as human cells will appear washed out and gram pos bacteria
will appear gram neg or partially stained. Gram neg cells such as human cells will
appear dark red / purple and other gram neg bacteria appear gram pos. -
CORRECT ANSWER-What will happen is the decolorizer is left on too long?
What about under-decolorized?
Damaged cells are a potential problem when looking at older culture, they will not
take up stain. This can be due to antibiotics. Overheating a slide distorts cells from
