ASM-ABMM Exam Details

  • Exam Code
    :ASM-ABMM
  • Exam Name
    :American Board of Medical Microbiology
  • Certification
    :American Society of Microbiology Certifications
  • Vendor
    :American Society of Microbiology
  • Total Questions
    :202 Q&As
  • Last Updated
    :May 26, 2026

American Society of Microbiology ASM-ABMM Online Questions & Answers

  • Question 101:

    A clinical microbiology laboratory is validating a new point-of-care test for the rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses. To accurately determine the clinical sensitivity of the test, it should be compared to a gold standard method using:

    A. A panel of known positive and negative samples stored at room temperature.
    B. A large number of prospectively collected clinical samples from patients with suspected influenza, with results confirmed by RT-PCR.
    C. Spiked samples containing known concentrations of influenza antigens.
    D. Samples from patients with other respiratory viral infections to assess cross-reactivity.

  • Question 102:

    A patient with a history of travel to a rural area develops a febrile illness with jaundice and dark urine. Peripheral blood smear reveals intraerythrocytic parasites with a characteristic Maltese cross morphology. The MOST likely causative agent is:

    A. Plasmodium falciparum
    B. Plasmodium vivax
    C. Babesia microti
    D. Trypanosoma brucei

  • Question 103:

    According to the current CDC-recommended laboratory algorithm for diagnosing HIV infection in adults and children aged >18 months, what is the recommended initial screening test?

    A. HIV-1 p24 antigen assay only
    B. HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay
    C. HIV RNA nucleic acid test (NAT)
    D. HIV-1/HIV-2 antigen/antibody combination immunoassay

  • Question 104:

    A clinical microbiology laboratory is performing quality control on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The zone diameter for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 tested against ciprofloxacin is consistently smaller than the acceptable range published by CLSI. The MOST likely cause of this discrepancy is:

    A. Use of expired antibiotic disks
    B. Incubation at an incorrect temperature
    C. Inoculation with a bacterial suspension that is too dense
    D. All of the above

  • Question 105:

    A patient with HIV infection and a very low CD4+ T-cell count develops a disseminated infection with a fungus that is commonly found in pigeon droppings. The MOST likely causative agent is:

    A. Candida glabrata
    B. Cryptococcus gattii
    C. Cryptococcus neoformans
    D. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

  • Question 106:

    A patient presents with perianal itching, particularly at night. Microscopic examination of cellophane tape preparation from the perianal area reveals oval-shaped eggs with one flattened side. The MOST likely causative organism is:

    A. Ascaris lumbricoides
    B. Enterobius vermicularis
    C. Trichuris trichiura
    D. Strongyloides stercoralis

  • Question 107:

    A 30-year-old female who recently returned from a hiking trip in the northeastern United States presents to her physician with a two-week history of a slowly expanding, erythematous rash with central clearing on her thigh. She also reports intermittent fatigue, arthralgias, and mild headache. Serological testing reveals a positive IgM and IgG response to Borrelia burgdorferi. Which of the following mechanisms is MOST significant in the pathogenesis of the clinical manifestations observed in this patient?

    A. Production of potent exotoxins leading to direct tissue damage
    B. Evasion of phagocytosis through a thick polysaccharide capsule
    C. Induction of a strong pro-inflammatory cytokine response by the host
    D. Intracellular replication within macrophages leading to disseminated infection

  • Question 108:

    During a community outbreak of influenza, a public health laboratory performs rapid antigen testing on nasopharyngeal swabs. A test for influenza A is positive, but the influenza B test is negative. Subsequently, RT-PCR is performed on the same sample, and it is negative for both influenza A and B viral RNA. The MOST likely explanation for this discordant result is:

    A. The rapid antigen test has low sensitivity, resulting in a false positive.
    B. The RT-PCR assay has a high limit of detection, missing a low viral load.
    C. The patient was infected with a novel influenza strain not detected by either assay.
    D. The rapid antigen test yielded a false positive result, and the RT-PCR was a true negative.

  • Question 109:

    A patient with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) develops a progressive respiratory illness. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is examined using direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining, which reveals numerous cysts of Pneumocystis jirovecii. The cysts appear:

    A. Small and round with a thick wall, containing sporozoites.
    B. Large and multinucleated with prominent endospores.
    C. Oval-shaped with a thin wall and internal nuclei.
    D. Cup-shaped or helmet-shaped with internal structures.

  • Question 110:

    An immunocompromised patient develops a disseminated fungal infection. Tissue biopsy reveals small (2-4 μm) yeast cells within macrophages. The patient has a history of living in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. The MOST likely causative agent is:

    A. Blastomyces dermatitidis
    B. Histoplasma capsulatum
    C. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
    D. Penicillium marneffei

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