Ziehl-Neelsen Staining MCQs Mock Test (30 MCQs)

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Learn Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, the cornerstone technique for detecting acid-fast bacilli (AFB) like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This definitive guide covers:
✓ Carbol fuchsin & acid-alcohol principle
✓ Step-by-step protocol for sputum/tissue samples
✓ Interpretation: AFB grading system (1+ to 4+)
✓ Key differences from Kinyoun & Auramine-Rhodamine stains
✓ Modern applications in TB diagnosis and drug resistance testing

Essential for microbiologists, TB lab technicians, and pathology residents in high-burden settings.

Challenge your TB diagnostics knowledge with 30+ ZN staining MCQs:
◼️ Decoding AFB smear results (scanty vs. 3+)
◼️ Identifying Nocardia vs. Mycobacterium
◼️ Troubleshooting over-decolorization
◼️ WHO-recommended quality control measures

Crucial for MLT certification, public health exams, and MDR-TB programs.

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Microbiology Department

Ziehl-Neelsen Staining MCQs Mock Test

Crucial for MLT certification, public health exams, and MDR-TB programs.

Read Full Article: Ziehl-Neelsen Staining 50 FAQ and 30 MCQs

1 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the purpose of acid-alcohol in Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

To decolorize non-acid-fast organisms

To heat the slide

To fix the smear

To counterstain the background

2 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the main application of Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Diagnosing viral infections

Identifying Gram-negative bacteria

) Detecting fungal infections

Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis

3 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

How long should the counterstain be left on the slide?

10 minutes

5 minutes

1-2 minutes

30 seconds

4 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the role of immersion oil in microscopic examination?

To fix the smear

To decolorize the slide

To clean the slide

To enhance resolution under the 100x objective

5 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Why are control slides used in each staining batch?

To reduce reagent usage

To increase staining speed

To save time

To ensure the reliability of results

6 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What should be done with waste materials after staining?

Burn them immediately

Reuse them for future staining

Follow laboratory safety protocols

Dispose of them in regular trash

7 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What type of staining method is Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Fluorescent staining

Differential staining

Negative staining

Simple staining

8 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Which bacteria are primarily identified using Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Staphylococcus aureus

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Escherichia coli

Streptococcus pneumoniae

9 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the decolorizing agent used in Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

20% H2SO4

95% ethanol

Gram's iodine

Methylene blue

10 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Which sample is commonly used for tuberculosis diagnosis?

Blood

Stool

Urine

Sputum

11 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the maximum number of slides that should be stained per batch?

12 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What color do acid-fast bacilli appear under the microscope?

Pink/red

Purple

Green

Blue

13 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the primary purpose of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain?

To stain fungal hyphae

To detect acid-fast bacilli

To identify Gram-positive bacteria

To differentiate viruses

14 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

How often should staining reagents be filtered?

Monthly

Weekly

Yearly

Daily

15 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What causes false-positive results in Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Overheating the slide

Contaminated reagents or debris on the lens

Using too much counterstain

Insufficient decolorization

16 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

How long should the decolorization process take?

5 minutes

15-20 seconds

1-2 minutes

5-10 seconds

17 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the purpose of heating the carbol fuchsin solution?

To soften the waxy cell wall of Mycobacterium

To kill the bacteria

To enhance the color of the stain

To fix the smear

18 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What should be recorded during microscopic examination?

Observations and abnormalities

Only negative results

The time taken for staining

Only positive results

19 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Which reagent is used as the primary stain in Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Gram's iodine

Methylene blue

Carbol fuchsin

Acid-alcohol

20 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Which PPE is essential during Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Gloves and lab coat

Only a lab coat

Safety goggles and gloves

Lab coat, gloves, and safety goggles

21 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What makes Mycobacterium species resistant to simple staining methods?

High water content

Presence of mycolic acid in the cell wall

Lack of a cell wall

Presence of flagella

22 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Who introduced the acid-fast staining technique?

Robert Koch

Paul Ehrlich

Alexander Fleming

Louis Pasteur

23 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Which equipment is used for heat fixation?

Centrifuge

Bunsen burner

Microscope

Staining rack

24 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

How can staining quality be consistently maintained?

By following SOPs and using control slides

By reusing reagents

By skipping control slides

By reducing staining time

25 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What does a positive result for acid-fast bacilli indicate?

Presence of Candida albicans

Presence of Escherichia coli

Presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Presence of Staphylococcus aureus

26 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What color do non-acid-fast organisms appear under the microscope?

Purple

Green

Blue

Pink

27 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

How long should the carbol fuchsin be heated during staining?

10 minutes

15 minutes

1 minute

5 minutes

28 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What is the counterstain used in Ziehl-Neelsen staining?

Methylene blue

Acid-alcohol

Gram's iodine

Carbol fuchsin

29 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

Why is proper ventilation important during staining?

To avoid staining errors

To maintain slide temperature

To minimize exposure to staining fumes

To prevent bacterial contamination

30 / 30

Category: Clinical Laboratory

What magnification is used for microscopic examination?

1000x

400x

40x

100x

Your score is

The average score is 82%

Read Full Article: Ziehl-Neelsen Staining 50 FAQ and 30 MCQs

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