Biosafety and Specimens
Stains
Culture Media
Staphylococci
Streptococci
100

This biosafety level is used for most organisms encountered in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

What is BSL 2?

100

These organisms appear as Gram-positive cocci in chains.

What is Streptococci?

100

This medium is used to observe hemolysis.

What is Blood Agar?

100

This enzyme differentiates Staphylococcus from Streptococcus.

What is catalase?

100

This Group B Streptococcus test produces an arrowhead of hemolysis.

What is the CAMP test?

200

This transport medium is commonly used for stool specimens.

What is Cary Blair media?

200

This organism appears as Gram-negative kidney bean-shaped diplococci.

What is Neisseria gonorrheae (or any Neisseria species)?

200

This medium supports growth of Haemophilus and Neisseria.

What is Chocolate agar?

200

This organism is coagulase positive.

What is Staphylococcus aureus?

200

This Group A Streptococcus test is positive.

What is PYR

300

This biosafety level is required for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

What is BSL 3?

300

This lipid-rich cell wall component allows Mycobacteria to retain stain after acid alcohol treatment.

What are mycolic acids?

300

This medium is selective for Gram-negative rods and differentiates lactose fermentation.

What is MacConkey Agar?

300

This organism is novobiocin resistant.

What is Staph saprophyticus?

300

This organism causes neonatal meningitis and is CAMP positive

What is Streptococcus agalactiae?

400

A blood culture collected after antibiotic therapy is started may produce this type of result.

What is a false negative culture?

400

Gram-negative coccobacillus requiring X and V factors.

What is H. influenzae?

400

This medium is selective for pathogenic Neisseria species.

What is Modified Thayer Martin?

400

This organism does not ferment mannitol, turns MSA pink, and is a common skin contaminant.

What is Staph epi?

400

This organism is alpha hemolytic, optochin resistant, and bile insoluble.

What is viridans Streptococci?

500

This biosafety level requires positive-pressure suits and is used for Ebola virus.

What is BSL 4?

500

A Gram stain of CSF reveals Gram-positive diplococci. The most likely organism is this.

What is Streptococcus penumoniae?

500

This medium is used for Legionella pneumophila.

What is BCYE?

500

A catalase-positive, coagulase-negative organism isolated from a young woman with UTI is most likely this organism.

What is Staph saprophyticus?

500

This organism grows in 6.5% NaCl and is PYR positive.

What is Enterococcus?