The University of Texas Medical Branch
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Clinical Microbiology Checklist
Page 1 of 4
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY PRECEPTORSHIP
OBJECTIVES
Purpose
The UTMB CLS student is required to meet cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill) and affective (attitude)
objectives of each preceptorship. This document outlines the cognitive and psychomotor objectives of the
program. Cognitive goals are evaluated through the use of a quiz based on the study guide questions, which are
based on these preceptorship objectives.
Preceptorship Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, at a level of 70% the student will be able to:
SPECIMEN PROCESSING
1. apply the established procedures for obtaining or receiving specimens, including
examination of requisitions and logging in of specimens
2. differentiate between appropriate specimens for processing and those that should be
rejected, including reason for the choice
3. identify and integrate reasons for choice of the appropriate media, atmospheric
conditions, temperature, and length of incubation for culturing various types of
specimens
4. explain and demonstrate the proper sterile and inoculation techniques for isolation of
micro-organisms
5. compare media selected for the cultures, whether standard, enriched, differential, or
selective and identify what the medium contains and why it is used
6. demonstrate and explain universal precautions in handling bio-hazardous materials in
the microbiology lab
7. appraise hazards that may be encountered and prevented in the microbiology lab
8. choose appropriate specimens for anaerobic cultures
9. assess correct methods for culture and transport of anaerobic specimens
10. assess correct collection and handling of samples for virology cultures/testing
DIRECT TESTING CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES
1. interpret and compare results of direct gram stain procedures, including cellular and
bacterial morphology, and blood culture stains
2. interpret and evaluate results of sputum screens for culture, including the purpose of
these screens
3. interpret and evaluate rapid strep screens, including types of internal and external
positive and negative controls
4. interpret and evaluate rapid antigen tests with correct and incorrect control results
5. interpret and evaluate EIA and IFA direct testing methods
6. compare the principles of the gram stain, rapid strep screen, rapid antigen tests, EIA
and IFA, and sputum screening procedures
7. state the principle of nucleic acid probe testing for venereal diseases
8. given a laboratory situation requiring screening tests, select the appropriate test to be
performed
IDENTIFICATION OF AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC ORGANISMS
1. compare principles of basic, standard procedures for identification of known gram
positive and gram negative organisms
2. evaluate methods that may be used to isolate organisms in multiple organism cultures
to obtain pure cultures
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Clinical Microbiology Checklist
Page 2 of 4
3. evaluate aerobic cultures and determine what constitute normal flora and potential
pathogens from various sources and types of specimens
4. examine and compare the significance of bacterial colonies on primary plating media
and describe appearance and hemolytic patterns on blood agar and appearance on
MacConkey agar
5. select, perform, and give the principle of tests needed for identification of isolated
organisms, based upon colonies observed on primary plating media
6. perform and evaluate methods of colony counts and identification procedures on urine
cultures and explain the significance of results obtained
7. discuss the importance of reporting the isolation and identification of clinically
significant organisms to the proper professional(s)
8. compare and contrast different systems for achieving anaerobic conditions
9. evaluate the appearance of colonies growing anaerobically on media used for primary
isolation of anaerobes, and select appropriate identification testing
10. compare methods used for the identification of anaerobes
11. identify anaerobes that are considered endogenous and/or pathogenic by body site
12. select appropriate identification techniques for Clostridium difficile.
ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY STUDIES
1. use CLSI guidelines on susceptibility testing to ensure compliance
2. compare disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods for susceptibility testing
3. select the appropriate method for susceptibility testing considering the type and origin
of the organism
4. observe, perform, and evaluate results of automated methods for susceptibility testing
5. evaluate causes of development of antibiotic resistance
6. evaluate mechanisms of antibiotic action on the bacteria
7. evaluate antibiotic susceptibility and appropriate reporting of susceptibility testing for
infections caused by specific types of organisms
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
perform and report results of quality control
use CLSI guidelines for quality control in microbiology to determine compliance
apply quality assessment programs to ensure the validity of tests
perform, report, and evaluate preventive maintenance of instruments
detect instrument malfunctions and take appropriate action
MYCOBACTERIOLOGY
1. describe the principle of and perform the concentration-digestion and decontamination
methods for acid-fast organisms
2. choose appropriate media, incubation conditions, and length of time for growth of the
commonly occurring mycobacteria
3. compare acid-fast (such as Kinyoun) and fluorescent staining techniques
4. perform and interpret acid-fast and/or fluorescent staining for Mycobacteria
5. compare grouping of Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) and tuberculosis to
determine relationships
PARASITOLOGY
1. state the principle of the formalin/ethyl acetate concentration method for specimen
processing and explain the sources of error and limitations
2. design a proper collection technique for pinworms to optimize recovery of the organism
3. demonstrate calibration of the ocular micrometer for production of a conversion chart
for sizing parasites
4. discuss two concentration procedures to prepare a specimen for ova and parasite
examination; including which organisms may not be identifiable by each method
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Clinical Microbiology Checklist
Page 3 of 4
5. discuss and interpret wet preps or pictures of such preps for Ova and Parasites
6. discuss and interpret smears or pictures of such smears for blood and tissue parasites
7. discuss and interpret special stains for Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora
8. compare and contrast staining procedures for malaria and other parasites found in
blood or body fluids
9. select quality control, quality assurance and preventive maintenance procedures to
ensure the validity of tests
10. given pictures, slides, or other representations of trophozoites, cysts and/or ova,
correctly identify the organism
11. differentiate and identify specific nematode infections based on clinical symptoms and
laboratory findings
12. differentiate and identify specific cestode infections based on clinical symptoms and
laboratory findings
13. differentiate and identify specific trematode infections based on clinical symptoms and
laboratory findings
14. differentiate and identify protozoan infections based on clinical symptoms and
laboratory findings
MYCOLOGY
1. differentiate between contaminant and pathogenic fungi by examining fungal cultures
2. identify fungi in slide culture, wet preps, LPCB preparations or from pictures, slides or
other representations
3. compare commercial yeast identification methods
4. identify and state the principle of basic tests used to identify fungi and yeasts
VIROLOGY
1. apply established procedures for obtaining or receiving specimens, including
examination of requisitions and logging in of specimens
2. differentiate between appropriate specimens for processing and those that should be
rejected, including reason for the choice
3. identify and integrate reasons for choice of the appropriate media, atmospheric
conditions, temperature, and length of incubation for culturing various types of
specimens
4. compare principles of basic, standard procedures for identification of common viruses
5. differentiate and identify specific viruses based on cytopathic effects
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Clinical Microbiology Checklist
Page 4 of 4
SEROLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY PRECEPTORSHIP
OBJECTIVES
Purpose
The UTMB CLS student is required to meet cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill) and affective (attitude)
objectives of each preceptorship. This document outlines the cognitive and psychomotor objectives of the
program. Cognitive goals are evaluated through the use of a quiz based on the study guide questions, which are
based on these preceptorship objectives.
Preceptorship Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, at a level of 70% the student will be able to:
GENERAL PROCEDURES
1. Apply established procedures for obtaining or receiving specimens, including
examination of requisitions and logging in of specimens
2. Differentiate between appropriate specimens for processing and those that should be
rejected, including reason for the choice
3. Perform and report results of quality control
4. Process specimens for send out to a reference laboratory
ANALYSIS
5. Perform, interpret and evaluate rapid agglutination tests, including types of internal and
external positive and negative controls
6. Interpret and evaluate infectious mononucleosis tests
7. Interpret and evaluate enzyme immunoassay testing methods
8. Interpret and evaluate immunofluorescence testing methods
9. Interpret and evaluate chemiluminescence testing methods
10. Interpret and evaluate Western blot assays