Medical Microbiology
Culture, identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and microbiology laboratory methods.
Concise Medical Microbiology laboratory test references for rapid Medical Laboratory Science lookup: specimen requirements, methods, reference values, interpretation, and laboratory pearls.
45 references in this catalogue
Catalogue references
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Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Smear
Microscopic detection of acid-fast organisms (notably mycobacteria) using carbolfuchsin or fluorochrome methods after acid-alcohol decolorization.
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Anaerobic Culture
Culture under anaerobic atmosphere for oxygen-sensitive bacteria from appropriately collected deep or sterile-site specimens.
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API Identification Systems
Miniaturized biochemical strip systems (e.g., API 20E) generating numerical profiles for bacterial identification; classical manual/semi-automated ID.
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Automated Susceptibility Testing
Instrument-based AST panels (VITEK, MicroScan, Phoenix and similar) providing rapid MIC-equivalent results and expert-system interpretations.
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Bile Esculin Test
Growth in bile with esculin hydrolysis (blackening) used to identify enterococci and group D streptococci in classical algorithms.
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Blood Culture
Culture of blood in continuously monitored bottle systems to detect bacteremia and fungemia.
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Catalase Test
Spot test detecting catalase enzyme via oxygen bubble formation from hydrogen peroxide; classical separator of staphylococci from streptococci/enterococci.
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Citrate Utilization Test
Simmons citrate agar test assessing ability to use citrate as sole carbon source; classical Enterobacterales differentiation reaction.
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Clostridioides difficile Toxin
Laboratory detection of C. difficile toxins and/or toxin genes as part of institutional CDI testing algorithms (GDH, toxin EIA, and/or NAAT).
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Coagulase Test
Detection of staphylococcal coagulase (bound and/or free) used to separate Staphylococcus aureus from most coagulase-negative staphylococci.
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Cryptococcal Antigen
Latex or lateral-flow immunoassay detecting Cryptococcus polysaccharide capsule antigen in serum or CSF; preferred over India ink for diagnosis.
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CSF Culture
Culture of cerebrospinal fluid for bacterial (and when ordered, fungal/mycobacterial) meningitis pathogens; a critical sterile-site culture.
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D-test
Disk approximation test detecting inducible clindamycin resistance (MLSᴮ) in staphylococci and streptococci when erythromycin is resistant and clindamycin appears susceptible.
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E-test
Gradient diffusion strip method yielding an MIC-like intersection value on agar; useful for selected drugs, fastidious organisms, and confirmation.
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Fungal Culture
Culture on mycologic media for yeasts and molds from clinical specimens; incubation is prolonged compared with routine bacterial culture.
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Genital Culture
Culture of genital tract specimens for pathogens included in the local protocol (e.g., Neisseria gonorrhoeae); many STI agents now rely primarily on NAAT.
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Gram Stain
Differential stain classifying bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative by cell-wall staining characteristics; foundational for smear interpretation and culture workup.
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Group B Streptococcus Screen
Antepartum vaginal–rectal culture (enrichment) or NAAT for Streptococcus agalactiae colonization to guide intrapartum prophylaxis.
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Helicobacter pylori Antigen
Stool (or other validated) antigen immunoassay detecting H. pylori; used for diagnosis and post-treatment eradication testing when urea breath testing is unavailable.
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India Ink Preparation
Negative-stain wet mount historically used to highlight encapsulated yeasts (notably Cryptococcus) in CSF; largely supplemented by antigen testing in modern laboratories.
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Indole Test
Detection of tryptophanase-mediated indole production; classical test separating Escherichia coli from many other Enterobacterales.
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Influenza Rapid Test
Rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) detecting influenza A/B antigens; lower sensitivity than NAAT; molecular methods preferred when available.
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Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion
Standardized agar disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility method measuring inhibition zone diameters against CLSI or EUCAST breakpoints.
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KOH Preparation
Direct microscopic examination of keratinized or tissue material cleared with potassium hydroxide to visualize fungal elements.
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Legionella Urinary Antigen
Urine immunoassay primarily detecting Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen; rapid support for Legionnaires’ disease diagnosis.
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MALDI-TOF MS
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identifying microorganisms from protein spectral fingerprints; first-line ID in most modern clinical laboratories.
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MIC Testing
Minimum inhibitory concentration methods (broth microdilution, agar dilution) quantifying the lowest antimicrobial concentration that inhibits visible growth.
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Modified Acid-Fast Stain
Weak-acid decolorization acid-fast method used to detect partially acid-fast organisms such as Nocardia and selected coccidian parasites (method-dependent).
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MRSA Screen
Surveillance culture or molecular screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization (commonly nasal); infection-prevention laboratory tool.
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Mycobacterial Culture
Culture for Mycobacterium species using solid and/or liquid media after specimen decontamination; reference method alongside NAAT for tuberculosis workups.
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis NAAT
Nucleic acid amplification testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (e.g., GeneXpert MTB/RIF-class assays) with optional rifampin-resistance detection.
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Optochin Susceptibility Test
Disk test distinguishing Streptococcus pneumoniae (optochin-susceptible) from viridans streptococci (usually resistant).
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Oxidase Test
Spot test for cytochrome c oxidase used in Gram-negative identification algorithms (e.g., Neisseria, Pseudomonas vs Enterobacterales).
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PYR Test
Pyrrolidonyl arylamidase (PYR) spot test positive for Enterococcus and Streptococcus pyogenes; key Gram-positive cocci branching reaction.
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RSV Rapid Test
Rapid antigen immunoassay for respiratory syncytial virus; commonly used in pediatric settings; NAAT offers higher sensitivity.
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SIM Test
Sulfide–Indole–Motility medium combining H₂S, indole, and motility reactions in a single tube for Enterobacterales workups.
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Sputum Culture
Culture of lower respiratory secretions for bacterial pneumonia pathogens; quality is judged by Gram stain cellular composition.
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Stool Culture
Selective culture of feces for common bacterial enteric pathogens; panels and media are laboratory- and region-specific.
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Streptococcus Rapid Antigen Test
Point-of-care or laboratory immunoassay detecting group A Streptococcus antigen from throat swabs; often paired with culture or NAAT backup.
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Throat Culture
Culture of oropharyngeal swab primarily for Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus) and other pathogens included in the local pharyngitis protocol.
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Triple Sugar Iron (TSI)
Tube medium assessing glucose/lactose/sucrose fermentation, gas, and H₂S production; classical Enterobacterales screening reaction.
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Urease Test
Detection of urease activity (urea → ammonia) used in identification of organisms such as Proteus, Helicobacter pathways, and selected Cryptococcus testing contexts.
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Urine Culture
Quantitative culture of urine to detect significant bacteriuria associated with urinary tract infection; interpretation is colony-count and clinical-context dependent.
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Wet Mount
Unstained saline (or buffered) microscopic examination of fresh specimens for motility, parasites, yeast, or cellular elements.
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Wound Culture
Culture of wound tissue or aspirate (preferred over superficial swab) for aerobic ± anaerobic pathogens associated with soft-tissue infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using this Medical Microbiology laboratory test catalogue Medical Laboratory Library reference in Medical Laboratory Science education.
What Medical Microbiology laboratory tests are in this catalogue?
This Medical Laboratory Library catalogue lists published Medical Microbiology laboratory tests for rapid reference lookup, including specimen, method, reference values, and interpretation sections where available.
How should Medical Laboratory Science students use this Medical Microbiology library?
Use it as a medical laboratory reference while studying Medical Microbiology. Look up a test quickly, then continue into Academy lessons or medical laboratory quizzes for deeper learning.
What information appears on each laboratory test page?
Each published page is structured for lookup: overview, clinical importance, specimen requirements, analytical method, reference values, interpretation, clinical significance, related laboratory tests, and references when present.
Are these laboratory reference values universal?
No. Laboratory reference values depend on method and population. Confirm intervals with your institutional laboratory protocols before clinical use.
How do I find related Medical Microbiology Academy lessons?
Open an individual laboratory test page for Continue learning links, or visit the Medical Microbiology Academy discipline pathway for structured Medical Laboratory Science courses.
Can I search within this discipline?
Return to the Laboratory Library hub search, or browse the cards in this catalogue by test name. The hub search covers laboratory tests across disciplines.
Is this catalogue a medical laboratory encyclopedia only?
This discipline catalogue focuses on laboratory tests. The broader Library also includes additional reference collections such as cells, markers, and foundational topics.