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Unit 1: Microbial good laboratory practices and biosafety - Practice Quiz

BTY331 — Microbiology Laboratory 60 Questions
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1 What is the main purpose of good microbiology laboratory practices?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. To prevent accidents and contamination
B. To reduce the size of equipment
C. To make organisms grow faster
D. To increase the color of cultures

2 Which item should be worn to protect the eyes in the laboratory?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Cotton gloves
B. Open sandals
C. Safety goggles
D. Cloth cap

3 What should laboratory personnel do before leaving the laboratory?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Wash their hands
B. Remove labels
C. Open all containers
D. Switch off the building alarm

4 Which action is prohibited in a microbiology laboratory?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Labeling a specimen
B. Wearing a lab coat
C. Cleaning the workbench
D. Eating food

5 What is the purpose of labeling a culture tube?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. To increase its temperature
B. To change its color
C. To identify its contents
D. To prevent all evaporation

6 Which practice helps prevent contamination of sterile materials?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Touching caps to the bench
B. Using unclean instruments
C. Leaving tubes uncovered
D. Keeping containers closed

7 What should be used to clean a microbiology workbench?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Dry paper only
B. Plain cooking oil
C. An approved disinfectant
D. Perfumed water

8 What is biosafety mainly concerned with?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Improving microscope colors
B. Preventing exposure to hazards
C. Increasing laboratory noise
D. Decorating laboratory walls

9 Which item is appropriate for protecting the hands during laboratory work?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Loose rings
B. Disposable gloves
C. Metal bracelets
D. Woolen scarves

10 How should broken glass contaminated with microorganisms be handled?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. With fingers into a regular bin
B. With tissue into a desk drawer
C. With forceps into a sharps container
D. With bare hands into a sink

11 What is an aerosol in a microbiology laboratory?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. A large drop on a workbench
B. A sealed glass storage bottle
C. Tiny particles suspended in air
D. A solid block of culture medium

12 Which action can produce infectious aerosols?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Reading a laboratory label
B. Closing a clean notebook
C. Wearing a protective coat
D. Vigorous vortexing of cultures

13 What should be done immediately after a biological spill?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Cover it with personal papers
B. Ignore it until the next day
C. Spread it across the bench
D. Report it and follow spill procedures

14 Why should mouth pipetting never be performed?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. It prevents labels from sticking
B. It makes pipettes too colorful
C. It may cause accidental ingestion
D. It lowers the room temperature

15 Where should used needles and other sharps be discarded?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. A puncture-resistant sharps container
B. A laboratory coat pocket
C. An open cardboard box
D. A clean glass beaker

16 What does aseptic technique aim to prevent?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Unwanted contamination
B. Use of protective clothing
C. Cleaning of laboratory surfaces
D. Correct specimen labeling

17 Why should long hair be tied back in the laboratory?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. To prevent contact with hazards
B. To increase microscope power
C. To sterilize the hair
D. To improve culture growth

18 What is the purpose of an autoclave?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. To identify cell shapes
B. To freeze cultures quickly
C. To sterilize materials with steam
D. To measure bacterial movement

19 What should be done with a contaminated laboratory coat?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Place it on a cafeteria chair
B. Handle it according to laboratory procedure
C. Share it with another student
D. Wear it home after work

20 Why is it important to know the location of the emergency eyewash station?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. For washing laboratory glassware
B. For cooling heated instruments
C. For storing unused specimens
D. For rapid eye rinsing after exposure

21 A student needs to transfer a culture that may produce aerosols. Which action best follows good microbiology laboratory practice?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Use a larger pipette to finish the transfer faster
B. Hold the tube above the open waste container
C. Perform the transfer inside a certified biosafety cabinet
D. Open the tube quickly near the bench edge

22 During pipetting, a student notices liquid has entered the pipette-aid. What is the most appropriate immediate response?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Place it beside the clean pipettes
B. Rinse it under the laboratory tap
C. Continue working after wiping the outside
D. Stop work and report the contamination

23 Why should mouth pipetting be prohibited even when handling a microorganism believed to be harmless?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. It makes the pipette difficult to sterilize
B. It reduces the accuracy of volume measurements
C. It can cause accidental ingestion or exposure
D. It increases evaporation from the sample

24 A culture tube breaks inside a centrifuge during a run. What should the operator do first?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Remove the broken tube using ungloved hands
B. Turn off the centrifuge and allow aerosols to settle
C. Open the lid immediately to inspect the rotor
D. Continue the run and clean the rotor later

25 Which practice best prevents contamination when using a sterile pipette tip?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Keep the tip away from nonsterile surfaces
B. Place the tip temporarily on the workbench
C. Reuse the tip for samples of the same type
D. Touch the tip to the tube rim before dispensing

26 A disinfectant is labeled for a 1:10 dilution, and 100 mL of final solution is needed. How much concentrate should be used if the ratio means one part concentrate in ten total parts?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. 50 mL concentrate and 50 mL diluent
B. 10 mL concentrate and 90 mL diluent
C. 5 mL concentrate and 95 mL diluent
D. 20 mL concentrate and 80 mL diluent

27 Which action is most appropriate after a small culture spill occurs on the workbench?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Wipe it immediately with a dry paper towel
B. Cover it, apply approved disinfectant, and wait
C. Rinse the spill into the sink with tap water
D. Move nearby materials and continue the procedure

28 Why should laboratory coats be removed before entering offices or eating areas?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. They may carry laboratory contaminants outside the work area
B. They lose their protective color outside the laboratory
C. They interfere with normal walking speed
D. They reduce the temperature of nearby equipment

29 A worker has a small cut on a finger before handling cultures. What is the best biosafety measure?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Cover the cut securely before putting on gloves
B. Disinfect the cut with culture medium
C. Avoid gloves because they conceal the wound
D. Leave the cut uncovered under the laboratory coat

30 Which situation most clearly requires use of a biological safety cabinet rather than a clean bench?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Preparing sterile uninoculated growth medium
B. Reading labels on sealed culture containers
C. Storing sterile pipette tips before use
D. Handling a specimen that may generate infectious aerosols

31 A technician must label several culture tubes. Which approach best supports specimen identification and safety?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Label tubes after inoculation from memory
B. Write labels only on the rack holding the tubes
C. Label each tube before beginning the procedure
D. Use abbreviated names without collection information

32 What is the main reason that needles should not be recapped by hand after use?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Hand recapping increases the risk of needlestick injury
B. Recapping prevents later sterilization of the needle
C. Recapping makes the needle chemically unstable
D. Hand recapping changes the needle diameter

33 A laboratory worker accidentally splashes a culture into the eyes. What should happen immediately?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Wipe the eyes with a dry tissue
B. Apply disinfectant drops to the eyes
C. Wait for symptoms before reporting the event
D. Flush the eyes at the eyewash station

34 Why should centrifuge tubes be balanced before centrifugation?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. To make cultures grow more rapidly
B. To reduce the need for disinfectant
C. To increase the incubation temperature
D. To prevent vibration and possible tube failure

35 Which behavior best supports aseptic technique while working with an open culture vessel?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Work near an active fan for better ventilation
B. Speak directly over the open vessel
C. Place the cap upside down on the bench
D. Keep the vessel open only as long as necessary

36 A container of contaminated pipette tips is nearly full. What is the safest action?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Leave the container beside the sink overnight
B. Transfer the tips to an open cardboard box
C. Compress the tips with a gloved hand
D. Close and replace the container according to policy

37 Which factor is most important when selecting a disinfectant for a microbial spill?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. The color of the disinfectant bottle
B. The fragrance remaining after application
C. The organism, surface, and required contact time
D. The lowest price among available products

38 A worker removes gloves after handling cultures but then touches a phone. What biosafety principle was violated?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Phones should be stored inside incubators
B. Gloves should always be worn outside the laboratory
C. Cultures should be handled without any gloves
D. Clean items should be protected from contaminated gloves

39 An unlabeled tube containing an unknown culture is found on the bench. What is the most appropriate action?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. Add it to the nearest labeled culture
B. Taste a small amount to identify the culture
C. Assume it is harmless and discard it normally
D. Treat it as potentially hazardous and report it

40 Why should laboratory doors remain closed during work with potentially infectious cultures?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Medium
A. To improve the color of culture media
B. To prevent incubators from losing heat
C. To maintain a controlled laboratory environment
D. To keep microscope lenses from drying

41 A laboratory plans to culture an unfamiliar environmental isolate that may produce aerosols during vortexing. Which action best demonstrates risk-based biosafety planning before work begins?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Begin work using standard teaching-laboratory procedures
B. Identify hazards, assess exposure routes, and select controls
C. Use the highest containment level automatically
D. Rely on the organism's environmental source to determine safety

42 A student must manipulate a culture likely to generate infectious aerosols, but the biological safety cabinet has failed its certification. What is the most appropriate response?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Reduce the culture volume and proceed cautiously
B. Perform the procedure on an open bench
C. Postpone the work until an approved cabinet is available
D. Continue work while wearing two pairs of gloves

43 During pipetting, a contaminated tip falls onto the bench without producing visible splashing. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Only the tip requires disposal
B. The event is harmless because no splash was seen
C. The area and nearby items may require assessment and decontamination
D. The incident is significant only if someone reports symptoms

44 Which practice most effectively reduces the risk of contaminating a sterile culture while maintaining good laboratory practice?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Disinfect only the work surface after the experiment
B. Place used pipettes beside sterile supplies for convenience
C. Keep all culture tubes open for rapid access
D. Arrange clean and contaminated materials in separate work zones

45 A disinfectant is effective against a target organism in suspension but performs poorly on a visibly soiled bench. Which conclusion is best supported?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. The contact time was probably unnecessary
B. Organic material may have reduced disinfectant effectiveness
C. A higher glove thickness would solve the problem
D. The organism must have become genetically resistant

46 A centrifuge tube containing a potentially infectious specimen breaks during centrifugation. What is the safest immediate strategy?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Remove fragments by hand using forceps
B. Open the lid immediately to inspect the damage
C. Restart the centrifuge to redistribute the contents
D. Allow aerosols to settle and follow the spill procedure

47 Which observation most strongly indicates that a biological safety cabinet is being used incorrectly?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. The operator keeps the sash at the marked height
B. The operator disinfects materials before removal
C. The operator blocks the front and rear airflow grilles
D. The operator limits unnecessary movement near the cabinet

48 A worker removes gloves after handling cultures but then touches a door handle before washing hands. Which control failure does this illustrate?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Failure to verify the organism's morphology
B. Failure to maintain a clean-to-dirty workflow
C. Failure to calibrate the incubator
D. Failure to label the culture medium

49 A laboratory's written protocol requires gloves, but a worker develops dermatitis after repeated use. What is the best biosafety response?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Report the problem and evaluate suitable glove and skin-protection alternatives
B. Stop using gloves for all procedures
C. Ignore the irritation until the project ends
D. Wear contaminated gloves longer to reduce replacement frequency

50 Which labeling scheme provides the most useful information for tracing a potentially infectious specimen?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. A date and an approximate organism name
B. A unique identifier, contents, date, and hazard information
C. A storage location and the color of the container
D. A sample nickname and the operator's initials

51 A specimen must be moved from one laboratory room to another. Which transport practice best minimizes risk?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Carry the specimen on an uncovered tray
B. Use a sealed, leak-resistant secondary container
C. Place the tube in a pocket for hands-free movement
D. Carry the open tube upright by hand

52 A sharps container is nearly full, and a worker considers compressing its contents to create space. What is the correct decision?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Add disinfectant and continue filling it
B. Close and replace the container according to policy
C. Compress the contents using a tool
D. Transfer the contents into a larger open container

53 A laboratory wants to verify that its sterilization cycle is reliable. Which evidence provides the strongest routine assurance?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Appropriate physical, chemical, and biological monitoring
B. A temperature display reading alone
C. A longer cycle selected without validation
D. A clean appearance after the cycle

54 A spill occurs inside a biological safety cabinet while the blower is operating. Which response is generally most appropriate?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Wipe the spill rapidly with bare hands to limit drying
B. Keep the cabinet operating and follow the approved spill procedure
C. Remove contaminated items before applying disinfectant
D. Turn off the blower immediately and leave the cabinet open

55 A worker sustains a small needle-stick injury from a tube containing an unknown culture. What should occur first?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Discard the culture and avoid mentioning the incident
B. Finish the experiment before documenting the event
C. Wash the affected area and report the exposure promptly
D. Apply disinfectant directly inside the puncture wound

56 Which change most directly reduces aerosol generation when mixing a microbial suspension?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Mix gently using a sealed, compatible container
B. Remove the cap repeatedly to inspect the suspension
C. Use forceful vortexing with an open tube
D. Increase the mixing speed to shorten exposure time

57 A laboratory changes from a low-protein specimen to a heavily proteinaceous specimen but keeps the same decontamination process. Why should the process be reassessed?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Proteinaceous material can alter cleaning and disinfectant performance
B. Decontamination is independent of the material being treated
C. The specimen type affects only labeling requirements
D. Protein always makes microorganisms noninfectious

58 A new employee has completed an online biosafety module but has never performed the relevant procedures. What is required before independent work?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Supervised practical training with documented competency assessment
B. Independent work because the module proves competence
C. A verbal promise to follow the laboratory rules
D. Permission to learn by observing other workers informally

59 A laboratory discovers that a specimen was processed outside the required containment conditions, but no injury or visible spill occurred. What is the best response?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Repeat the test and delete the original record
B. Take no action because no harm is evident
C. Report the deviation and assess potential exposure and corrective actions
D. Mention it informally only if symptoms later develop

60 A researcher proposes opening culture plates near an air-conditioning vent because the bench is crowded. Why should the proposal be rejected?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Hard
A. Culture plates are safe whenever they remain horizontal
B. Air-conditioning always sterilizes exposed culture plates
C. Air movement can increase contamination and aerosol dispersion
D. Crowded benches eliminate the need for airflow controls
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Unit 2