CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
OBJECTIVES
Purpose
The student is required to meet cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill) and affective (attitude)
objectives of each preceptorship. This document outlines the cognitive and psychomotor objectives
for microbiology.
AFFECTIVE OBJECTIVES:
1. Demonstrate initiative by reviewing objectives, theory and procedures prior to and
regularly through out the rotation.
2. Demonstrate professionalism by:
a. Report to clinical time on all scheduled days at assigned times
b. Notify clinical preceptor as soon as possible of anticipated tardy.
c. Notify clinical preceptor and MLT faculty of absence at least 30 minutes prior to
scheduled arrival time.
d. Use cell phones and MP3 only during designated break times, NEVER in the
clinical laboratory.
e. Ask permission to use the phone for personal reasons. Limit personal phone calls
to once per shift and less than 3 minutes.
3. Demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in the profession of clinical laboratory science.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts underlying clinical laboratory tests.
5. Use time in the clinical laboratory effectively to maximize productivity and learning.
6. Offer to help with the work load of the clinical laboratory when appropriate.
7. Use instructional guidance and constructive criticism to correct deficiencies and improve
performance.
8. Work cooperatively with clinical preceptors, other laboratory personnel and other health
care professionals.
9. Demonstrate the ability to concentrate and avoid distractions while performing laboratory
work.
10. Perform laboratory work independently and without distractions.
11. Follow written and verbal instructions.
12. Perform laboratory work with accuracy, efficiency and precision.
13. Communicate in a clear and concise manner and record data accurately and legibly.
14. Recognize report and resolve problems that may arise and take appropriate corrective
action.
15. Demonstrate diligence in working through and resolving problems.
16. Assure that the laboratory work area is clean and well stocked.
17. After appropriate time and training, perform laboratory work with organization, accuracy,
efficiency, precision and confidence.
18. Complete work on time and meet deadlines for assignments.
19. Maintain the confidentiality of patient information.
20. Follow all safety guidelines of the MLT program and clinical site.
21. Conform to the clinical dress code.
22. Conform to the ASCLS Code of Ethics.
Objectives
The student shall demonstrate the ability to:
Safety
1. Use appropriate personal protective equipment at all times when working with patient
samples.
2. Locate all fire extinguishers, eye wash stations and safety showers.
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3. Locate Materials Safety Data Sheets, chemicals carcinogens list, and hazardous chemicals
list.
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 microorganisms.
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 standard precautions in handling bio-hazardous materials in the
microbiology lab.
7. Review hazards that may be encountered and prevented in the microbiology lab.
8. Choose appropriate specimens for anaerobic cultures.
9. Evaluate correct methods for culture and transport of anaerobic specimens.
10. Evaluate correct collection and handling of samples for virology cultures/testing, if applicable.
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
1. Perform and report results of quality control.
2. Use CLSI guidelines for quality control in microbiology to determine compliance.
3. Apply quality assessment programs to ensure the validity of tests.
4. Perform, report, and evaluate preventive maintenance of instruments.
5. Detect instrument malfunctions and take appropriate action.
TESTING CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES
23. Interpret and compare results of direct gram stain procedures, including cellular and bacterial
morphology, and blood culture stains.
24. Interpret and evaluate results of sputum screens for culture, including the purpose of these
screens.
25. Interpret and evaluate rapid strep screens, including types of internal and external positive
and negative controls.
26. Interpret and evaluate rapid antigen tests with correct and incorrect control results.
27. Interpret and evaluate EIA and IFA direct testing methods, if applicable.
28. Compare and contrast the principles of the gram stain, rapid strep screen, rapid antigen
tests, EIA and IFA, and sputum screening procedures.
29. Given a laboratory situation requiring screening tests, select the appropriate test to be
performed.
IDENTIFICATION OF AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC ORGANISMS
1. Compare and contrast 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.
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.
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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), such as TDH or Infection control.
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 and contrast methods used for the identification of anaerobes.
11. Identify anaerobes that are considered endogenous and/or pathogenic by body site.
12. Discuss appropriate identification techniques for Clostridium difficile.
ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY
1. Use CLSI guidelines on susceptibility testing to ensure compliance.
2. Compare and contrast disk diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods for susceptibility testing, where
applicable.
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.
Reference Laboratory Send-Out
1. Using reference laboratory procedure manuals, process specimens for transport, where
applicable.
OPTIONAL PROCEDURES (as available at the clinical site)
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 and contrast 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. Perform a concentration procedure to prepare a specimen for ova and parasite examination.
5. Prepare and examine wet preps for Ova and Parasites.
6. Prepare and examine smears for blood and tissue parasites.
7. Prepare and examine special stains for Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora.
8. Compare and contrast staining procedures for malaria and other parasites found in blood or
body fluids.
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Revised 5/2012
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 and contrast 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 and contrast principles of basic, standard procedures for identification of common
viruses.
5. Differentiate and identify specific viruses based on cytopathic effects.
Austin Community College
Revised 5/2012