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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 reduce the size of equipment
B. To increase the color of cultures
C. To prevent accidents and contamination
D. To make organisms grow faster

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

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

4 Which action is prohibited in a microbiology laboratory?

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

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 prevent all evaporation
D. To identify its contents

6 Which practice helps prevent contamination of sterile materials?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Using unclean instruments
B. Leaving tubes uncovered
C. Touching caps to the bench
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. Perfumed water
C. An approved disinfectant
D. Plain cooking oil

8 What is biosafety mainly concerned with?

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

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 bare hands into a sink
B. With tissue into a desk drawer
C. With fingers into a regular bin
D. With forceps into a sharps container

11 What is an aerosol in a microbiology laboratory?

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

12 Which action can produce infectious aerosols?

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

13 What should be done immediately after a biological spill?

To learn the good microbiology laboratory practices and biosafety Easy
A. Spread it across the bench
B. Ignore it until the next day
C. Cover it with personal papers
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 may cause accidental ingestion
B. It prevents labels from sticking
C. It lowers the room temperature
D. It makes pipettes too colorful

15 Where should used needles and other sharps be discarded?

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

16 What does aseptic technique aim to prevent?

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

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

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

18 What is the purpose of an autoclave?

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

19 What should be done with a contaminated laboratory coat?

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

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 cooling heated instruments
B. For washing laboratory glassware
C. For rapid eye rinsing after exposure
D. For storing unused specimens

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. Perform the transfer inside a certified biosafety cabinet
B. Hold the tube above the open waste container
C. Use a larger pipette to finish the transfer faster
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. Rinse it under the laboratory tap
B. Stop work and report the contamination
C. Continue working after wiping the outside
D. Place it beside the clean pipettes

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 increases evaporation from the sample
B. It reduces the accuracy of volume measurements
C. It can cause accidental ingestion or exposure
D. It makes the pipette difficult to sterilize

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. Turn off the centrifuge and allow aerosols to settle
B. Remove the broken tube using ungloved hands
C. Continue the run and clean the rotor later
D. Open the lid immediately to inspect the rotor

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

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

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. 10 mL concentrate and 90 mL diluent
B. 20 mL concentrate and 80 mL diluent
C. 50 mL concentrate and 50 mL diluent
D. 5 mL concentrate and 95 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. Cover it, apply approved disinfectant, and wait
B. Wipe it immediately with a dry paper towel
C. Move nearby materials and continue the procedure
D. Rinse the spill into the sink with tap water

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 reduce the temperature of nearby equipment
B. They may carry laboratory contaminants outside the work area
C. They interfere with normal walking speed
D. They lose their protective color outside the laboratory

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. Leave the cut uncovered under the laboratory coat
C. Avoid gloves because they conceal the wound
D. Disinfect the cut with culture medium

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. Handling a specimen that may generate infectious aerosols
B. Preparing sterile uninoculated growth medium
C. Storing sterile pipette tips before use
D. Reading labels on sealed culture containers

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. Use abbreviated names without collection information
B. Label tubes after inoculation from memory
C. Write labels only on the rack holding the tubes
D. Label each tube before beginning the procedure

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. Recapping makes the needle chemically unstable
B. Hand recapping changes the needle diameter
C. Recapping prevents later sterilization of the needle
D. Hand recapping increases the risk of needlestick injury

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. Wait for symptoms before reporting the event
C. Apply disinfectant drops to the eyes
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 increase the incubation temperature
B. To reduce the need for disinfectant
C. To prevent vibration and possible tube failure
D. To make cultures grow more rapidly

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. Keep the vessel open only as long as necessary
B. Speak directly over the open vessel
C. Work near an active fan for better ventilation
D. Place the cap upside down on the bench

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. Compress the tips with a gloved hand
C. Close and replace the container according to policy
D. Transfer the tips to an open cardboard box

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 lowest price among available products
D. The organism, surface, and required contact time

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. Gloves should always be worn outside the laboratory
B. Phones should be stored inside incubators
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. Assume it is harmless and discard it normally
B. Taste a small amount to identify the culture
C. Add it to the nearest labeled culture
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. Identify hazards, assess exposure routes, and select controls
B. Use the highest containment level automatically
C. Begin work using standard teaching-laboratory procedures
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. Continue work while wearing two pairs of gloves
B. Postpone the work until an approved cabinet is available
C. Perform the procedure on an open bench
D. Reduce the culture volume and proceed cautiously

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 area and nearby items may require assessment and decontamination
C. The event is harmless because no splash was seen
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. Arrange clean and contaminated materials in separate work zones
C. Place used pipettes beside sterile supplies for convenience
D. Keep all culture tubes open for rapid access

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. A higher glove thickness would solve the problem
B. The contact time was probably unnecessary
C. Organic material may have reduced disinfectant effectiveness
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. Restart the centrifuge to redistribute the contents
C. Open the lid immediately to inspect the damage
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 disinfects materials before removal
B. The operator blocks the front and rear airflow grilles
C. The operator limits unnecessary movement near the cabinet
D. The operator keeps the sash at the marked height

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 calibrate the incubator
B. Failure to label the culture medium
C. Failure to maintain a clean-to-dirty workflow
D. Failure to verify the organism's morphology

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. Ignore the irritation until the project ends
B. Wear contaminated gloves longer to reduce replacement frequency
C. Report the problem and evaluate suitable glove and skin-protection alternatives
D. Stop using gloves for all procedures

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 sample nickname and the operator's initials
B. A date and an approximate organism name
C. A unique identifier, contents, date, and hazard information
D. A storage location and the color of the container

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 open tube upright by hand
B. Use a sealed, leak-resistant secondary container
C. Place the tube in a pocket for hands-free movement
D. Carry the specimen on an uncovered tray

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. Close and replace the container according to policy
B. Compress the contents using a tool
C. Add disinfectant and continue filling it
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. A longer cycle selected without validation
B. Appropriate physical, chemical, and biological monitoring
C. A clean appearance after the cycle
D. A temperature display reading alone

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. Keep the cabinet operating and follow the approved spill procedure
B. Turn off the blower immediately and leave the cabinet open
C. Remove contaminated items before applying disinfectant
D. Wipe the spill rapidly with bare hands to limit drying

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. Apply disinfectant directly inside the puncture wound
B. Finish the experiment before documenting the event
C. Discard the culture and avoid mentioning the incident
D. Wash the affected area and report the exposure promptly

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

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

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. Decontamination is independent of the material being treated
B. Protein always makes microorganisms noninfectious
C. Proteinaceous material can alter cleaning and disinfectant performance
D. The specimen type affects only labeling requirements

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

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. Report the deviation and assess potential exposure and corrective actions
B. Mention it informally only if symptoms later develop
C. Take no action because no harm is evident
D. Repeat the test and delete the original record

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