Microbial Laboratory Identification Practice Test

A 28-year-old woman returns from a mission trip to Nigeria and develops high fevers that occur every 48 hours, accompanied by chills and profuse sweating. Her physician suspects malaria. A sample of her peripheral blood is sent to the laboratory for microscopic examination.

A 22-year-old man presents with a 2-day history of purulent urethral discharge and dysuria after unprotected sexual contact. A urethral swab is sent for culture. To isolate the fastidious gram-negative diplococcus responsible for his condition, the sample is plated on a selective medium containing vancomycin, colistin, nystatin, and trimethoprim.