Reading Gram Stained Smears From Cultures

Betty Smith, MT(ASCP); Mary Ann Fiene, MSMT(ASCP); Rukhsana Evans, MSMT(ASCP)

This course explains how to intelligently evaluate and interpret gram stained smears from cultures. Good for clinical laboratory science students, cross training, and CE. Covers gram positive and gram negative bacilli; single, pair, chain, and tetrad cell arrangements; and reporting.

Continuing Education (CE) Credits

P.A.C.E. Contact Hours: 1.5 hour(s)
Florida CE: General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1 hour(s)

Other Microbiology Courses

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Reading Gram Stained Smears From Cultures Objectives

Explain the importance of GRAM STAINED SMEARS from isolated colonies.
Discuss the procedure for reading smears from CULTURES with respect to:
- GRAM STAIN reaction
- Shape of the ORGANISM
- Arrangement of cells
- Technical errors
Identify MICROORGANISMS as GRAM POSITIVE or GRAM NEGATIVE and be able to describe their shape and cell arrangement.
Be able to read smears from various CULTURES, and write an appropriate report for each.

Reading Gram Stained Smears From Cultures Outline

IntRODuction to Reading GRAM STAINED CULTURE Smears

CULTURE, Isolation, and IDENTIFICATION of MICROORGANISMS
The process of MICROORGANISM IDENTIFICATION includes: (Choose ALL of the correct answers)
A PHYSICIAN can use the information from a CULTURE smear report to make a preliminary DIAGNOSIS and begin TREATMENT.

General Aspects of GRAM STAINED CULTURE Smears

GRAM STAIN
CELLULAR Arrangement
GRAM POSITIVE and Negative Stain Colors
Focus Power
Control Slides
MACROSCOPIC Appearance
COCCI and RODS
Variations in the Shape of COCCI
GRAM NEGATIVE Bacilli
Bacilli Size and Shape
Variations in the Ends of RODS
BUDDING FORMS of Yeast
SINGLE CELL Arrangement
PAIR CELL Arrangement
CHAIN CELL Arrangement
TETRAD CELL Arrangement
Clusters of GRAM POSITIVE BACTERIA
Yeast Cells
Summary
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Please select all the choices below than correctly describe this GRAM STAINED SMEAR.
Which of the following terms can be used to describe COCCI?
Bacilli can have tapered or rounded ends.

Reporting GRAM STAINED CULTURE Smears

Principle
Information to be reported
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choices for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
Please select the correct choice for reporting.
All of the following information is included in a CULTURE smear report EXCEPT:
The type of CULTURE medium has no effect on CELLULAR arrangement.
The BACTERIA on the positive and negative control slides stain pink. This does not affect the rest of the slides in the batch.
Observations that can be of value to the MICROBIOLOGIST include:

Reading Gram Stained Smears From Cultures Keywords

Click on a term below to see its use in this Reading Gram Stained Smears From Cultures course and other available MediaLab courses.

gram positive (18 occurances)
gram negative (16 occurances)
bacteria (12 occurances)
cocci (11 occurances)
culture (9 occurances)
gram negative cocci (8 occurances)
gram negative rod (8 occurances)
gram positive cocci (8 occurances)
gram positive rod (8 occurances)
gram stained smear (8 occurances)
organism (8 occurances)
cellular (6 occurances)
budding (5 occurances)
microorganism (5 occurances)
physician (4 occurances)
rod (4 occurances)
rod-shaped (4 occurances)
bacterial (4 occurances)
identification (4 occurances)
gram stain (4 occurances)
treatment (3 occurances)
tetrad (2 occurances)
filamentous (2 occurances)
lancet (2 occurances)
microbiologist (2 occurances)
antibiotic (2 occurances)
aureus (2 occurances)
budding form (2 occurances)
diagnosis (2 occurances)
coli (2 occurances)