Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

When should spatula-collected specimens be plated?

1. Immediately onto culture plates to avoid drying

2. After a fixed period of transport

3. Only if specimens are refrigerated

4. As soon as the laboratory opens

The correct answer is: Immediately onto culture plates to avoid drying

Plating spatula-collected specimens immediately onto culture plates is crucial to avoid drying because these specimens can quickly lose viability if left exposed to air. When a specimen dries out, the microorganisms it contains may die or become less recoverable, leading to inaccurate results. Timely plating ensures that the microorganisms remain in a favorable environment for growth and yields the most reliable culture results. Other choices do not align with best practices for handling specimens. Transporting specimens for a fixed period can lead to potential degradation or contamination, delaying the growth potential of the organisms. Refrigeration may prolong the viability of some specimens, but it is not an ideal method if immediate plating is possible. Waiting until the laboratory opens to plate specimens can lead to unnecessary delays and could compromise the quality of the cultures due to desiccation or changes in the microorganisms’ viability.