Third year Science unit, LSB647 Diagnostic Microbiology: practical examination
Developed by Associate Professor Louise Hafner, Dr Deb Stenzel and Moira Cordiner
Synopsis of the task and its context
This unit is offered at QUT. Students, in a supervised examination, demonstrate laboratory skills (detection, isolation, drawing and identification) to identify
organisms, types of samples and methods of preparation. They examine live cultures, clinical isolates, prepared specimens, samples, micrographs and other graphical
information as well as preparing and staining a specimen on a slide, and setting up a microscope to view specimens. To support their identification of the causative
agents of infection and the diagnosis of fungal and parasitic diseases presented in the examination, students briefly explain and justify by reference to the features
that differentiate these from other organisms in the spaces provided on the answer sheet. Diagrams and bullet points are acceptable as explanations.
Match between objectives/learning outcomes and criteria for the task
objectives
On completion of the unit, you should:
task-specific criteria
On completion of this task, you should:
1. Demonstrate and apply:
 laboratory skills (detection, isolation, drawing and identification) for the diagnosis of
these diseases
 knowledge of the fungal and parasitic disease processes in humans, their pathology,
and implications for patient health
1. Demonstrate and apply:
 laboratory skills (detection, isolation, drawing and identification) for the diagnosis of
the selected fungal and parasitic disease-causing organisms
 knowledge of the selected organisms using live cultures, clinical isolates and prepared
specimens
2. Analyse and interpret clinical situations to propose hypotheses that determine the
strategy for data gathering.
2. Analyse and interpret clinical material, data and information to identify the causative
agents of infection
3. Justify the diagnosis of fungal and parasitic diseases
3. Justify the diagnosis of fungal and parasitic diseases from the selected specimens
presented in the prac exam
Interpreting the criteria sheet
Note that this criteria sheet uses some descriptors across standards. For example, the first descriptors for criterion 1 (which is about the demonstrating and applying
knowledge) apply to standards HD (High Distinction) and DN (Distinction) because this is what Louise and Deb typically see in student work and what they expect
of students who reach these two standards. This means that descriptors that only apply to a standard HD (and not also to a DN) are what distinguish a standard HD
from a DN. The descriptors for the other two criteria are what is different between the two standards allowing a judgment to be made whether the work merits a
grade of HD or DN. This way of setting out standards can help you avoid ‘contriving’ a difference between the standards when, in some instances, there is no
difference.
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LSB647 Diagnostic Microbiology Practical exam – testing diagnostic laboratory skills
criterion
1. Demonstrate and
apply:
 laboratory skills
(detection,
isolation, drawing
and identification)
for the diagnosis
of the selected
fungal and
parasitic diseasecausing organisms
 knowledge of the
selected
organisms using
live cultures,
clinical isolates
and prepared
specimens
HD (High Distinction)
DN (Distinction)
CR (Credit)
20% of unit
PP (Pass)
In your practical exam, you have demonstrated and applied:
In your practical exam, you
have demonstrated and applied:
In your practical exam, you
have demonstrated and applied:
 proficient laboratory skills and comprehensive knowledge by:
 laboratory skills and
knowledge by:
 demonstrated laboratory
skills and knowledge by:
 preparing, on a slide, a thin sample comprised of a number
of organisms sufficient to be observed quickly and easily
 staining the slide (neither over or under stained) to show
the features that will lead to identification
 setting up microscopes to suit the nature of the samples
(own preparation and pre-prepared slides) to illuminate and
magnify the features that will lead to identification of the:
 organisms
 sample type (e.g. blood, faecal, tissue)
 stain type and quality
 preparing, on a slide, a thin
sample comprised of a
number of organisms
sufficient to be observed
quickly and easily, and over
or under-staining the slide
OR
 preparing, on a slide, a
sample (either too thick or
too thin) that does not show
the required number of
organisms, and staining the
slide (neither over or understained) to show the
features that will lead to
identification
 setting up microscopes to
suit the nature of the
samples (own preparation
and pre-prepared slides) to
partially illuminate and/or
magnify the features that
will lead to identification of
the:
 organisms
 sample type (e.g. blood,
faecal, tissue)
 stain type and quality
 preparing, on a slide, a
sample (either too thick or
too thin) that may or may
not show the required
number of organisms
NN (Fail)
In your practical exam, you
have:
 put a sample on a slide
that may or may not be
stained or show the
organism
 staining the slide
 setting up microscopes to
illuminate and magnify
some features in your own
preparation and in preprepared slides, that may
lead to identification of the:
 organisms
 sample type (e.g. blood,
faecal, tissue)
 stain type and quality
 used a microscope to
view a prepared or own
slide that may or may not
lead to identification of
the:
 organisms
 sample type (e.g. blood,
faecal, tissue)
 stain type and quality
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LSB647 Diagnostic Microbiology Practical exam – testing diagnostic laboratory skills
criterion
2. Analyse and
interpret clinical
material, data and
information to
identify the causative
agents of infection
3. Justify the
diagnosis of fungal
and parasitic
diseases from the
selected specimens
presented in the prac
exam
HD (High Distinction)
DN (Distinction)
CR (Credit)
20% of unit
PP (Pass)
 accurately drawing whole organisms and correctly labelling
the morphological features that assist in identification and
distinguish them from other organisms
 drawing whole organisms
and correctly labelling most
of the morphological
features that assist in
identification and
distinguish them from other
organisms
 drawing whole organisms
and correctly labelling
some features that may
assist in identification
 describing observations and culture characteristics in detail
using scientific terminology
 describing observations
and culture characteristics
using scientific terminology
 describing observations
and some culture
characteristics in general
terms
In your practical exam, you
have analysed and interpreted
clinical material, information and
data to:
 correctly identify the
organisms, types of samples
and methods of preparation
(previously studied in the
unit), in at least half of the
samples, micrographs and
other graphical information
In your practical exam, you
have analysed and
interpreted clinical material,
data and information to:
 correctly identify
organisms, types of
samples and methods of
preparation (previously
studied in the unit), in all
of the samples,
micrographs and other
graphical information
In your practical exam, you
have:
 succinctly explained and
justified the identification
of the selected disease
organisms, by reference
to the features that
differentiate these from
other organisms
In your practical exam, you
In your practical exam, you
have analysed and interpreted
have analysed and interpreted
clinical material, information and
clinical material, information and
data to:
data to:
 correctly identify organisms, types of samples and methods of
preparation (previously studied in the unit), in most of the
samples, micrographs and other graphical information
In your practical exam, you
have:
 explained and justified the
identification of the selected
disease organisms, by
reference to most of the
features that differentiate
these from other organisms
In your practical exam, you
have:
 explained and justified the
identification of the selected
disease organisms, by
reference to some of the
features that differentiate
these from other organisms
In your practical exam, you
have:
 explained and justified the
identification of the selected
disease organisms, by
reference to some features of
their organisms
NN (Fail)
 drawn something
observed under the
microscope and may or
may not label what you
have seen
 listed some culture
characteristics in general
terms
In your practical exam, you
have:
 identified an ‘organism’ OR
type of sample OR method
of preparation, in the
samples, micrographs and
other graphical information
In your practical exam, you
have:
 referred to some features of
the ‘organisms’ you have
observed
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