Standard precautions at the specimen reception counter mean that:

Every specimen is treated as potentially infectious

Specimens from known HIV patients are refused

Only blood specimens are handled as infectious

Only specimens marked high risk need gloves

A urine sample for culture arrives labelled with a name that differs from the name on the request form. What should be done?

Reject it and ask for a fresh sample

Process it and add a note to the report

Report it under the name on the container

Relabel the container to match the form

In the triple packaging used to send infectious specimens, the absorbent material is placed between the:

Primary receptacle and secondary packaging

Request form and secondary packaging

Secondary packaging and outer packaging

General microbiology: specimen reception and handling

11 Kerala PSC Lab Technician Gr II practice questions on General microbiology: specimen reception and handling, part of Microbiology. The first 11 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
Standard precautions at the specimen reception counter mean that:
1. ASpecimens from known HIV patients are refused
2. BOnly blood specimens are handled as infectious
3. CEvery specimen is treated as potentially infectious
4. DOnly specimens marked high risk need gloves
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Answer: C · Every specimen is treated as potentially infectious
Many infected patients are not yet diagnosed when their samples are taken, so a high-risk label cannot be relied on. Under standard precautions every blood, body fluid and tissue specimen is handled with gloves and a laboratory coat, and containers are opened carefully to avoid splashes. Leaking or broken containers are dealt with as spills.
- A: Refusing samples because of the patient's HIV status is discriminatory and unacceptable.
- B: Body fluids, tissues and other specimens can also be infectious.
- D: Unlabelled specimens can carry HIV, hepatitis B or tuberculosis just as easily.
Question 2 · Medium
A urine sample for culture arrives labelled with a name that differs from the name on the request form. What should be done?
1. AProcess it and add a note to the report
2. BReject it and ask for a fresh sample
3. CReport it under the name on the container
4. DRelabel the container to match the form
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Answer: B · Reject it and ask for a fresh sample
A mismatch means the laboratory cannot be sure whose urine it is, and a result reported on the wrong patient can cause harm. Urine is easy to collect again, so the specimen is rejected, the ward is informed and the rejection is recorded. Laboratory staff should never relabel a specimen they did not collect. Irreplaceable specimens such as CSF or tissue are handled under a separate documented procedure.
- A: A comment does not make a wrong-patient result safe.
- C: The container label may itself be the wrong one.
- D: Relabelling by the laboratory hides the error and may attach the result to the wrong patient.
Question 3 · Easy
At specimen reception, the container label and the request form must match on at least how many patient identifiers?
1. AFour
2. BTwo
3. COne
4. DThree
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Answer: B · Two
Standard practice requires at least two independent identifiers, such as full name and hospital (OP/IP) number, on both the container and the request form. The bed or ward number is not an identifier because it changes. Checking two identifiers at reception catches most labelling errors before testing starts. Any mismatch is resolved before the specimen is processed.
- A: Four identifiers are more than the minimum required.
- C: One identifier, such as a name alone, cannot separate patients with the same name.
- D: Three identifiers are acceptable, but two is the minimum.
Question 4 · Easy
Each specimen received in the microbiology laboratory is entered in the register and given a unique:
1. ADoctor's registration number
2. BLaboratory accession number
3. CWard and bed number
4. DReagent lot number
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Answer: B · Laboratory accession number
The accession (laboratory) number links the specimen with its request form, worksheets, culture plates and final report. It is written on every plate and tube set up from the specimen, so that subcultures can be traced later. The register also records the date and time of receipt, the specimen type and the tests requested.
- A: The doctor's registration number is the same for many patients.
- C: Ward and bed details change and are not unique to a specimen.
- D: Reagent lot numbers identify reagents, not specimens.
Question 5 · Easy
In the triple packaging used to send infectious specimens, the absorbent material is placed between the:
1. ARequest form and secondary packaging
2. BPrimary receptacle and secondary packaging
3. COuter packaging and its label
4. DSecondary packaging and outer packaging
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Answer: B · Primary receptacle and secondary packaging
The primary receptacle holding the specimen is watertight and is wrapped in enough absorbent material to soak up its whole contents if it breaks. It sits inside a watertight, leak-proof secondary package, and both go into a rigid outer package. The request form and other documents go between the secondary and outer packaging so they stay clean. Reception staff open such packages with gloves and check for leaks first.
- A: The request form is kept outside the secondary package, away from any leak.
- C: Absorbent must surround the primary receptacle, inside the secondary package.
- D: Documents, not absorbent, go between the secondary and outer packaging.
Question 6 · Hard
A small laboratory receives these specimens at 8 p.m. Which one must NOT be placed in the refrigerator while it waits for processing?
1. AMidstream urine for culture
2. BSputum for AFB culture
3. CCSF for bacterial culture
4. DSerum for the Widal test
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Hard
A lymph node biopsy is sent for tuberculosis culture and drug susceptibility testing. It reaches the reception counter in a container of 10% formalin. What should be done?
1. ARinse it in saline and inoculate LJ medium
2. BReject it for culture and request fresh tissue
3. CRefrigerate it and culture it the next day
4. DInoculate it into a liquid enrichment broth
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Easy
For keeping reference bacterial cultures alive for many years, the method of choice is:
1. AWeekly subculture on agar plates
2. BLyophilisation (freeze-drying)
3. CAgar slants in the refrigerator
4. DBroth cultures at room temperature
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Question 9 · Easy
Sputum for tuberculosis culture is decontaminated and processed inside a:
1. AChemical fume hood
2. BHorizontal laminar flow clean bench
3. COpen bench beside a burner
4. DClass II biological safety cabinet
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Question 10 · Medium
A sputum container breaks on the reception bench. The spill is covered with paper towels. What should then be poured over it and left for about 30 minutes?
1. ANormal saline
2. B1% sodium hypochlorite
3. C70% ethyl alcohol
4. DTap water
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Question 11 · Medium
A midstream urine for culture reaches the laboratory at 6 p.m. but cannot be plated until the next morning. What should be done with it?
1. ALeave it on the bench overnight
2. BKeep it in the 37 °C incubator
3. CRefrigerate it at 4 °C
4. DAdd formalin and keep it
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

General microbiology: specimen reception and handling

Standard precautions at the specimen reception counter mean that:

A urine sample for culture arrives labelled with a name that differs from the name on the request form. What should be done?

At specimen reception, the container label and the request form must match on at least how many patient identifiers?

Each specimen received in the microbiology laboratory is entered in the register and given a unique:

In the triple packaging used to send infectious specimens, the absorbent material is placed between the:

A small laboratory receives these specimens at 8 p.m. Which one must NOT be placed in the refrigerator while it waits for processing?

A lymph node biopsy is sent for tuberculosis culture and drug susceptibility testing. It reaches the reception counter in a container of 10% formalin. What should be done?

For keeping reference bacterial cultures alive for many years, the method of choice is:

Sputum for tuberculosis culture is decontaminated and processed inside a:

A sputum container breaks on the reception bench. The spill is covered with paper towels. What should then be poured over it and left for about 30 minutes?

A midstream urine for culture reaches the laboratory at 6 p.m. but cannot be plated until the next morning. What should be done with it?