Portage Microbiology Exam #5 Questions
& Answers 2026
Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer) - Correct answer-
Universal precautions means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are
to be treated as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic) materials
List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assessing and
unknown microbial sample (short answer) - Correct answer-Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must
determine the following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2) its
Gram status using the same sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided. Which
would you determine first and why? (short answer) - Correct answer-You must
determine motility before determining Gram status. Motility requires a wet mount,
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, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample. If one were to begin with the
gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any
observations regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to
place the liquid culture on a glass slide and determine its motility status. Next, the
same liquid culture can be heat fixed and gram stained.
A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what
conditions? (short answer) - Correct answer-A facultative anaerobe is capable of
growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups of
alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus - Correct answer-False. The Lancefield groups are
used to subdivide beta-hemolytic strep
The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above - Correct answer-B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
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& Answers 2026
Define the concept of universal precautions (short answer) - Correct answer-
Universal precautions means any and all samples, whether known or unknown, are
to be treated as potentially hazardous (or pathogenic) materials
List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be sure to note while assessing and
unknown microbial sample (short answer) - Correct answer-Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable motility
3. Gram status (positive or negative)
While observing an unknown sample of limited amounts, a researcher must
determine the following observations: 1) the presence of any motility and 2) its
Gram status using the same sample- the liquid sample cannot be divided. Which
would you determine first and why? (short answer) - Correct answer-You must
determine motility before determining Gram status. Motility requires a wet mount,
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, while gram staining requires heat fixing the sample. If one were to begin with the
gram stain, the heat fixation process would kill the organism, making any
observations regarding motility impossible. The correct approach would be to
place the liquid culture on a glass slide and determine its motility status. Next, the
same liquid culture can be heat fixed and gram stained.
A facultative anaerobe is a microorganism capable of growth under what
conditions? (short answer) - Correct answer-A facultative anaerobe is capable of
growth under aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions
True or False: The Lancefield groups are used to subdivide antigenic groups of
alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus - Correct answer-False. The Lancefield groups are
used to subdivide beta-hemolytic strep
The distinctions for Lancefield subgroups lie in its: (select all that apply)
A. Catalase activity
B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
C. Hemolytic activity
D. All of the above - Correct answer-B. Carbohydrate composition of antigens
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
