Microbiology questions for the SLLE lab exam.
Microbiology in the SLLE, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties licensing exam for laboratory professionals, covers bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and virology from specimen collection to identification and susceptibility reporting. Candidates are expected to apply standard laboratory methods and interpret findings for common and clinically important pathogens, including those relevant to the region.
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1,469
microbiology practice questions
- 20%
- of the exam
- 8
- subtopics
- Oct 2026
- updated
Inside this topic.
The subtopics our microbiology questions cover.
- Bacteriology
- Helminths
- Protozoa
- Culture media
- Staining
- Mycology
- Parasitology
- Biochemical tests
Key facts to remember.
High-yield microbiology points to revise before the exam.
- 1
Brucella species are small, urease-positive Gram-negative coccobacilli and a recognized cause of laboratory-acquired infection, so suspected isolates must be handled in a biological safety cabinet.
- 2
Clostridioides difficile infection is diagnosed in unformed stool, commonly with a GDH antigen screen followed by toxin or toxin-gene testing.
- 3
Haemophilus influenzae needs both X factor (hemin) and V factor (NAD); it grows on chocolate agar and as satellite colonies around S. aureus on blood agar.
- 4
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can be seen with India ink in CSF and detected sensitively by cryptococcal antigen testing.
- 5
Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale infect enlarged red cells showing Schuffner's dots and can relapse from dormant liver hypnozoites.
Sample questions with answers.
10 practice questions for the SLLE Laboratory Technologist & Technician Licensing Exam - Saudi Arabia (Microbiology). Pick an answer to see if you're right, with a full explanation.
Question 1
A patient has a reactive VDRL test. What is the NEXT confirmatory test?
Question 2
A boy who frequently handles animals develops scaly skin lesions. Which type of fungi is MOST likely?
Question 3
A positive Voges-Proskauer (VP) test suggests the presence of:
Question 4
(Image: Culture plate showing swarming growth)Which property explains this appearance?
Question 5
Which bacterium shows darting motility and grows in alkaline media?
Question 6
Which virus listed in the notes is an RNA virus?
Question 7
Which parasite migrates through the lungs during its life cycle?
Question 8
A pregnant woman with her first pregnancy has a cat at home. Which screening test is MOST appropriate?
Question 9
Which organism is the most common cause of food poisoning with rapid onset vomiting?
Question 10
A Gram-negative diplococcus isolated from CSF is MOST likely:
Other topics in this exam.
Questions, answered
Group them by their special growth requirements: Haemophilus (X and V factors), Neisseria (chocolate agar and CO2), Legionella (BCYE agar with cysteine), Bordetella pertussis (Regan-Lowe or Bordet-Gengou medium) and Campylobacter (microaerophilic conditions at 42°C). For each, learn the specimen, the medium and one key identification test. This organism-medium pairing underpins many identification questions.
Know which organisms require biosafety level 3 practices, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella, and that aerosol-generating work must be done in a biological safety cabinet. Understand sterilization by autoclaving (typically 121°C for at least 15 minutes) and the safe disposal of infectious waste. Suspected high-risk isolates should be handled and referred according to laboratory policy rather than worked up on the open bench.
Ready to practise microbiology?
All 1,469 microbiology questions, with explanations and a readiness score for this topic.