1. Define viruses as microbes in terms of size, morphology, and response to physical, chemical, and biological agents of control.

2. Differentiate viruses from other human disease-causing microbes.

3. Name the parts of a virion particle and be able to assemble the parts into correct diagrammatic order.

4. Explain the function of each part of a viron particle.

5. Describe the types of viral symmetry and give two examples of each.

6. Explain the process of replication for both enveloped and naked viruses.

7. Define interferon in terms of its role in viral infection.

8. Explain why antibiotics are not effective against viruses.

9. For each virus listed below, state route of transmission and explain mechanism(s) of pathogenesis.

10. State the Order, Family, Genus, Species, nucleic acid type and strandedness [e.g., single, double, etc.] for each of the viruses listed below.

11. Given the common characteristics of a virus, and using available resources, classify it by order, family, genera, and species.

12. Associate specific disease(s) with infection by the viruses listed below.

13. Practice laboratory safety as described in the OSHA CFR 29 and all subsequent regulations including instructions in universal precautions.

14. Identify types of safety equipment and inspect and maintain safety equipment including fire extinguishers, safety showers, eyewash stations, safety storage cabinets, splash guards, biological and fume hoods.

15. Recognize and report hazardous situations according to established laboratory policy, take actions to minimize injury to self and others, and to prevent further occurrences.

16. Follow documentation procedures for work-related accidents.

17. Adhere to all laboratory safety protocols including disposal of biohazardous materials, safe use of instrumentation, specimens, and reagents and demonstrate proper body mechanics and health habits in all work endeavors.

18. Ask appropriate scientific questions, communicate results, and demonstrate ability to evaluate and draw conclusions.

19. Evaluate virological laboratory test data to: (a) recognize common/technical problems; (b) verify test results; (c) check for and identify possible sources of pre-analytical and analytical error; (d) determine possible inconsistent results; (e) recognize health and disease states; and (g) to assess the accuracy of procedures for a given test.

20. Identify the specimen of choice when infection by any one of the viruses listed below is suspected.

21. Provide instructions for collection of clinical samples including urine, CSF, peripheral blood, stool, sputum, and vesicle/lesion samples with regard to timing of sample collection, proper containers for collection and transport, use of transport medium, and short- and long-term storage if testing of sample(s) is delayed.

22. Match type of specimen required for viral infection investigation by principal body system affected.

23. Discuss the common methods used to detect the presence of viral antigen(s), nucleic acid, or antibody in clinical specimens in terms of analytical principles, method advantages and disadvantages, appropriate use, and method alternatives.

24. Define cytopathic effect [CPE] and give three examples of CPE.

25. Apply knowledge of basic laboratory procedures in order to perform analyses important in the detection of viral infection.

26. Recommend the appropriate diagnostic viral laboratory course of action for the type of sample submitted and virology test requested.

27. Develop and use a virology vocabulary.

28. Correlate laboratory and clinical data with a diagnosis of viral infection.

Viruses of Interest

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1. State definitions for general terminology used in mycology.

2. Correctly recognize, from fungal cultures, photographs, or drawings common mycological structures.

3. Given a fungal culture, accurately describe its texture, topography, and color.

4. Given the sexual reproduction of a fungus, discuss its taxonomy, including possible types of asexual reproduction, hyphal septation, and two medically important representative genera.

5. State whether infected material from a specific body site represents a superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, or systemic mycosis.

6. Given a fungal structure, state if it is reproductive or non-reproductive, and if it is the former, briefly describe how it reproduces.

7. List at least four general rules for good fungal specimen collection.

8. Correctly collect and process a fungal specimen from a given body source.

9. List at least two fungi which may be recovered from a given body site.

10. Explain why respiratory and urine specimens are collected in the morning, and why 24-hour collections should be avoided.

11. State two reasons why direct examination of every specimen for mycology is essential.

12. Discuss the types of specimen direct examinations, including the principle, procedure, and appearance of fungi in each.

13. List the rationale for use of the different primary isolation media for various fungi.

14. List the optimal incubation temperature(s) for primary fungal cultures.

15. Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of the tease mount, cellophane tape, slide culture, modified slide culture, and coverslip sandwich techniques for fungal examination.

16. List the pitfalls of skin tests for fungal infections.

17. List immunologic methods for fungal antibody testing and fungal antigen testing, respectively.

18. List possible causes of false positive results when testing for cryptococcal antigen, and ways to decrease false positives.

19. List four methods of fungal culture preservation.

20. List the five basic classes of antifungal agents and give one example of each. Discuss which mycoses (systemic disease, dermatophytes, yeasts, subcutaneous) are treated by each class of agents.

21. Discuss problems with successful antifungal treatment of immunocompromised patients.

22. Discuss at least five common properties of fungal opportunists.

23. Identify from fungal colonies, microscopic preparations, photos and drawings common opportunistic fungi.

24. Describe the importance of shield cells and foot cells in the identification of opportunistic organisms.

25. Given a fungal microscopic preparation, classify the organism as aseptate or septate, and if septate, categorize as hyaline or dematiaceous.

26. Compare and contrast superficial and cutaneous mycoses.

27. Identify hairs with endothrix invasion, ectothrix invasion, and in vitro perforation.

28. Identify from culture, microscopic appearance, biochemical characteristics, and mycosis fungi causing superficial and cutaneous mycoses.

29. Describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of the common cutaneous mycoses and state with which organism each is associated.

30. List the three dermatophyte genera; state which body sites (skin, nails, ectothrix hair, endothrix hair) are infected by each genus; and describe the microscopic characteristics, especially macro- and microconidia, that are typical for each genus.

31. Identify from culture, microscopic appearance, biochemical characteristics, and mycosis fungi causing subcutaneous mycoses.

32. List two properties that Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Coccidioides immitis all share.

33. Identify characteristic fungal structures associated with the systemic fungi.

34. Briefly describe blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis, including any special epidemiologic (geographic) associations, mode of transmission, causative agents, and main types of clinical infection.

35. List the requirements for the safe handling of mold and clinical specimens in the laboratory.

36. Discuss safety precautions to use when working with systemic pathogens.

37. Correlate laboratory data with physiological conditions for the purpose of assessing the validity of the results.

38. Ask appropriate scientific questions and demonstrate ability to evaluate and draw conclusions.

39. Utilize correct instrumentation, statistical and mathematical applications, reagent preparation and storage, specimen collection and handling, quality assurance and quality control.

40. Apply laboratory safety as described in the OSHA of 1970, 29 USCA section 655 and all subsequent regulations including instructions in universal precautions which is incorporated by reference in the safe use of laboratory equipment and procedures.

41. Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationships in working with others in the laboratory.

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Medical Parasitology

1. State definitions for general terminology used in parasitology.

2. Recall the scientific and common names for each parasite studied.

3. State the general geographic distribution of each parasite.

4. State the parasitic form that causes disease in humans and its body location.

5. Describe the means by which each infection occurs.

6. State the name of the disease produced and its most common symptoms and pathology.

7. Recognize the diagnostic stages of each parasite.

8. State the appropriate body specimen to examine for the diagnostic stage of each parasite, and list other laboratory tests useful in its diagnosis.

9. Describe the method of choice for specimens, preservation and staining techniques.

10. Perform appropriate and satisfactory microscopic and macroscopic examination of body specimens for parasites including blood, urine or feces to detect and to identify parasites.

11. Master fecal concentration techniques as demonstrated by satisfactory performance of the techniques and correct identification of recovered parasites and elements.

12. Master direct wet mounts and iodine mounts of fresh fecal specimens by satisfactory performance of the techniques and correct identification of recovered parasites and elements.

13. Prepare and stain slides of fecal and blood material satisfactorily as demonstrated by the correct diagnosis of parasites contained therein.

14. Given sufficient case history information, identify the most probable helminth or protozoan causing the symptoms and the body specimen of choice for study.

15. Correlate laboratory data with physiological conditions for the purpose of assessing the validity of the results.

16. Ask appropriate scientific questions and demonstrate ability to evaluate and draw conclusions.

17. Utilize correct instrumentation, statistical and mathematical applications, reagent preparation and storage, specimen collection and handling, quality assurance and quality control.

18. Apply laboratory safety as described in the OSHA of 1970, 29 USCA section 655 and all subsequent regulations including instructions in universal precautions which is incorporated by reference in the safe use of laboratory equipment and procedures.

19. Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationships in working with others in the laboratory.

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