1.03 -

Question 1

What is the mainstay or gold standard for the
diagnosis of Microbial Infections?
a. Gram Stain
b. Microscopy
c. Culture
d. Molecular Studies
e. All of the Above

Answer 1

C. Culture

Question 2

TRUE or FALSE. Molecular / nucleic acid-based analytic diagnostic methods allow microbial genes to be examined phenotypically.

a. True
b. False

Answer 2

FALSE
- Nucleic acid-based analytic methods for microbial identification and characterization:
▪ Allows microbial genes to be examined directly (genotypic methods) rather than by analysis of their products such as enzymes, other proteins and toxins, or identifiable characteristics of organism growth (phenotypic methods)

Question 3

The application of molecular diagnostic in microbiology provide the following, except: 
a. Qualitative detection of the organism
b. Identity testing
c. Positive validation testing
d. Genotyping for antimicrobial drug
resistance

Answer 3

c. Positive validation testing
- Application of molecular diagnostics in microbiology:
▪ Qualitative and quantitative detection
▪ Microbial identity testing
▪ Negative validation testing
▪ Genotyping for antimicrobial drug resistance

Question 4

Because quality and quantity of the specimen is essential to obtaining an accurate result in molecular diagnostics, maintaining the integrity of nucleic acids within the sample is of utmost importance. Factors that may affect the integrity of a specimen include:

a. Specimen type
b. Specimen collection device
c. Timing of collection and transport
d. Storage conditions
e. All of the Above

Answer 4

E. AOTA

Question 5

When collecting bacteria, or viruses from mucosal membranes (such as the nasopharynx or the oropharynx), what specimen collecting device is preferred?

a. Cotton Swabs
b. Mucus
c. Sputum
d. Plastic swabs
e. Saliva

Answer 5

D. Plastic Swabs

• Plastic swabs are recommended for collection of bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasmas from mucosal membranes.
• The organisms are more easily removed from the plastic shafts than from other materials such as wooden shafts or wire. This provides an increase in nucleic acid yield, thereby increasing analytical sensitivity of the molecular test.

Question 6

The three main categories of Nucleic Acid - Based Methods include the following (please check or tic all that applies to the question)

a. Hybridization
b. Polymerase Chain Reaction
c. Enzymatic Digestion
d. Amplification
e. Nucleic Acid Sequencing

Answer 6

Hybridization
Amplification
Nucleic Acid Sequencing

Question 7

This method is based on the ability of two nucleic acid strands with complementary base sequences to bond specifically with primers to form a double-stranded molecule

a. Hybridization
b. Amplification
c. Nucleic Acid Sequencing
d. None of the above

Answer 7

A. Hybridization

Question 8

If a pathogen is complementary or homologous with the probe sequence, this will result to a: nucleic acid sequence from a suspected

a. Positive Hybridization
b. Negative Hybridization
c. Both choices are applicable d. None of the above

Answer 8

b. Negative Hybridization
- If there is no pairing b/n the probe and its target nucleic acid strand, there will no duplex formed indicating that the hybridization process is negative

Question 9

This hybridization method is more sensitive since it can detect as few as one copy of a specific nucleic acid sequence present in the specimen.

a. Non-amplified Hybridization
b. Amplified Hybridization
c. In situ hybridization
d. All of the Above

Answer 9

b. Amplified Hybridization