Updated: 01/12/2013
State Exam Syllabus in Clinical Microbiology
for Medical Laboratory Technicians
This part constitutes 30% of the overall exam score.
The professional syllabus is divided into three secondary fields [bacteriology (57%),
virology (30%), parasitology (13%)].
1.
General microbiology
(1) Procedures of taking laboratory samples for culture.
(2) Procedures of accepting/rejecting samples for culture.
(3) Procedures of reporting results
(4) Procedures of laboratory work safety:
a. Knowledge and expertise in working under conditions of biological
hazard (BSL 1, 2, 3)
b. Procedure of handling exposure to various infectious agents.
2.
Characterization of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
(1) Differences between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
(2) Spot tests
(3) Gram staining
(4) Differences between fermentative and non-fermentative bacteria
(5) Principle of bacteria identification by:
a. Commercial kits
b. Serology
c. Robotics
(6) Knowledge of growth substrates
(7) Identification of the gram –positive bacteria staphylococcus and streptococcus.
3.
Methods of sensitivity tests for anti-microbial agents
(1) Disk Diffusion Test (Kirby Bauer)
(2) MIC
(3) E-test
(4) By robotics (MicroScan, Phoenix, Vitek)
Updated: 01/12/2013
(5) Principle of action of antibiotic agents
4.
Section of urinary tract infections
(1) Types of samples received for culture and conditions of acceptance
(2) Identification of pathogens vs. external contaminants
5.
Section of gastrointestinal tract infections
(1) Knowledge of bacterial, parasitic and viral enteropathogens
(2) Identification according to metabolic profile vs. serological profile
(3) Detection of fecal toxin (CD Tox A+B)
6.
Section of respiratory infections
(1) Knowledge of criteria for accepting/rejecting sputum samples for culture
(2) Knowledge of the major pathogen
7.
Section of blood cultures
(1) Knowledge of the automatic devices for blood culture monitoring
(2) Knowledge of the types of culture flasks for blood cultures and various
incubation periods
(3) Knowledge of working protocols – gram staining, seeding on growth substrates,
immediate sensitivity testing, identification of bacteria
(4) Impacts of various findings of blood culture, criteria for external contaminants
(5) Recognizing the importance of telephone reporting on microscopic and culture
findings
8.
Section of wounds, body fluids
(1) Importance of direct smear for the relevant samples
(2) Knowledge of the various seeding protocols according to the sample type, such
as pleural fluid and catheters
9.
Resistant bacteria
Screening for resistant bacteria, resistance mechanisms (KPC, ESBL, MRSA, VRE)
10. Mycology
(1) Yeast proliferation mechanisms
(2) Differences between yeast and mold
(3) Growth substrates for yeast and mold
11. Parasitology
(1) Procedures for receipt of samples of feces, urine, other body fluids and tissues
(2) Acceptance and rejection of the above samples
Updated: 01/12/2013
(3) Theoretical knowledge:
Types of parasites and diseases caused by them, including: life cycles,
morphology, definitive host and inter-host, vector, animal reservoir,
epidemiology, parasite - host relationships, diagnosis and treatment. Refer only
to the following list of parasites.
List of parasites:

Fecal single cell parasites: amoebas, giardia, cryptosporidium

Worms: schistosoma, toxocara

Blood parasites – plasmodium
(4) Work methods: principles (light microscopy, reagent preparation, staining
methods: Giemsa, Lugol)
(5) Serological methods for parasite detection, identification of antigens in blood,
feces and urine.
Bibliography:
.1994 ‫הוצאת דיונון – אוניברסיטת תל אביב‬. ‫גולד‬. ‫ד‬, ‫לגני‬. ‫י‬. ‫דפי עזר לפרזיטולוגיה‬
2.
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Garcia, L.S( 2008) Diagnostic Medical Parasitology. Elsevier. N.Y
Amsterdam, London.
3.
http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/
,‫ מחלקת המעבדות‬.0302001 '‫ חוזר מס‬.‫מחלות המחייבות הודעה – אבחון מעבדתי‬
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.2001 ‫משרד הבריאות‬
12. General background in virology – the nature of viruses
Recommended book: Fields Virology. Fourth Edition.
Chapter 2: Introduction on the nature of viruses, p. 19-44
Chapter 3: Viral structure and proliferation mechanism, p. 73-78
Chapter 9: Viral pathogenesis, p. 199–200
Chapter 11: Immune response to viruses, p. 285–290
Chapter 14: Epidemiology of viral diseases, p. 383–386
Chapter 16: Vaccinations - Fields, p. 435-442
13. Diagnostic approach – Laboratory techniques (cell cultures, serology,
molecular techniques)
Recommended book: Fields Virology. Fourth Edition.
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Updated: 01/12/2013
Chapter 18: p. 493- 526
14. Laboratory of Virology - details
Recommended book: Clinical Virology Manual. By Steven Specter, Richard L.
Hodinka, Stephan A. Young.
Chapter 2: Laboratory samples and their transfer
Chapter 3: Tissue cultures and virus isolation from cultures.
H1 methods principles and neutralization
Chapter 20: Quantitative molecular methods: PCR, Real time PCR
15. Viral families, diseases and diagnosis
Recommended book: Clinical Virology Manual. By Steven Specter, Richard L.
Hodinka, Stephan A. Young.
Chapter 23: Influenza viruses
Chapter 24: Polioviruses
Chapter 27: Hepatitis A, B, C
Chapter 37: HIV viruses
Bibliography
Microbiology: Selected chapters from the following books
1.
Medical Microbiology. G. Kobayashi, PR. Murray, MA. Pfaller and KS. Rosenthal
editors. 2nd edition, C. V. Mosby Comp. 2002.
2.
Manual of Clinical Microbiology. KV. Forrest, JH. Jorgensen, and PR. Murray
editors. 4th edition, ASM Press, 2003.
3.
Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. HD Eisenberg editor, Vol. 1 & 2, ASM
Press, 1992.
‫ הוצאת דיונון – אוניברסיטת תל אביב‬.‫ מהדורה רביעית‬.‫ שליט‬.‫ א‬,‫ ברגר‬.‫ ס‬.‫מבוא למחלות זיהומיות‬
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.1991
.1987 ‫ הוצאת דיונון – אוניברסיטת תל אביב‬.‫ מיכאלי‬.‫ ד‬,‫ ברגר‬.‫ ס‬.‫בקטריולוגיה כללית‬
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‫ משרד‬,‫ מחלקת המעבדות‬.0302001 '‫ חוזר מס‬.‫מחלות המחייבות הודעה – אבחון מעבדתי‬
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‫ משרד הבריאות‬,‫ מחלקת המעבדות‬.0102001 '‫ חוזר מס‬.‫עדכון רשימת המחלות המחייבות הודעה‬
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