Biod 1715 Portage Learning 2026/2027 Microbiology Exam

1. Define the concept of universal precautions (short
answer)
Universal precautions means any
and all samples,
whether known or
unknown, are to be
treated as potentially hazardous (or
pathogenic) materials
2. List at lease 3 observations a researcher would be
sure to note while assessing and unknown microbial
sample (short answer)
Need to note:
1. Size and shape
2. Any observable
motility
3. Gram status
(positive or negative)
3. 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)
You must determine motility before
determining Gram
status. Motility requires a wet mount,
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 de