Microbiology section

Laboratory work depends on the specimen they have been received. So, the good quality of the
specimen is required. In the laboratory, they care about the quality of the collection and
transportation of the specimen. That’s will help to analyse the specimen and release the right result
to the physician.
❖ The specimens in microbiology are:
• Urine & stool (preserved), If it’s preserved it’s can stay at room temperature.
• Sputum can be refrigerated until work.
• Blood cultures.
• Wound, vaginal swab, eye and ear swabs.

❖ There are many type of agar used to cultivate the organisms present in the
specimen, the most common used:
• Sheep blood agar, chocolate agar.
• MacConkey agar, XLD agar. CLED agar, MRSA agar.
• Sabouraud dextrose agar.
After cultivation, the plate must placed inside the incubator to provide the suitable condition to
promote the growth of the organism. If there is a growth in the culture media, we must follow that
by identifying the name of the organism by biochemical test. After that, they do the antibiotic
sensitivity test to identify the most appropriate treatment of patients. Biochemical test include the
essential tests such as catalase, coagulase, urease and oxidase can be performed to differentiate
between bacterial families. After that, Identification of the organism can be done by using
Analytical profile index (API) test. API identification products are test kits for identification of
Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and yeast. API strips give accurate identifications based
on extensive databases and are standardized, easy-to-use test systems. It is a biochemical panel for
identification and differentiation of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Figure 1: API test.