The presence of a few waxy casts is considered normal?

A post-vasectomy sample is received into the lab. You mix the sample well and place a drop of specimen on a slide. After covering it with a coverslip, you examine it under the microscope. No sperm are seen on the slide. What is the next step?

Why do cystic fibrosis patients have an increase in the viscosity of their secretions?

In the lab, the specimen is Gram-stained and inoculated onto blood agar. Microscopic analysis of the slide reveals Gram-positive cocci arranged in grapelike clusters, while the blood agar produces round, creamy colonies with clear areas of hemolysis. Which of the following would be the most likely causative organism?

An RN in a long-term care facility oversees the care of 15 patients. He observes precautions to control and prevent the spread of infection.

What is the principle of the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)?

Which substance can cause falsely negative reactions for glucose and for blood by interfering with hydrogen peroxide?

If a stool sample contains only degraded hemoglobin, would this produce a false positive or a false negative result on a guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)?

Which of the following can cause a false postive nitrite result?

A 47-year-old male and father of five works as a high school English teacher. He recently read in the community newspaper that local sewage is treated and repurposed to the community as drinking water. His senior English class is concerned about the quality of drinking water in the city and they want to petition the state senate to pass a bill barring the practice. He comes to the local health department asking for information.