Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

What is a critical consideration for preparing a culture medium?

1. It must only be used for gram-negative organisms

2. It should be prepared in a non-sterile environment

3. It must be sterile and may be stored refrigerated

4. It should be created using only natural nutrients

The correct answer is: It must be sterile and may be stored refrigerated

The correct choice emphasizes the importance of sterility and proper storage practices for culture media, which is crucial in microbiology. The medium must be sterile to prevent contamination that could interfere with the growth of the target organisms, leading to inaccurate results. Contaminated media could allow unwanted microorganisms to proliferate, thereby skewing experiments or diagnostic results. Storing the prepared medium under refrigeration is also essential because it helps to maintain its integrity and prolongs its shelf life by slowing down any potential degradation or microbial growth that might occur at higher temperatures. Both sterility and appropriate storage conditions are vital for ensuring the reliability and validity of microbiological studies. The other options suggest practices that either restrict the usage of the medium to specific organisms, compromise its sterility, or limit its nutrient composition unnecessarily, each of which would undermine the purpose and effectiveness of the culture medium.