Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

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Which media is used to culture a throat swab?

Macconkey and sheep blood agar
Chocolate and sheep blood agar
Mueller Hinton and chocolate agar
Thayer-Martin and chocolate agar

The correct answer is: Chocolate and sheep blood agar

The correct choice involves using both chocolate agar and sheep blood agar for culturing throat swabs. These media are specifically designed to support the growth of a wide range of bacteria that may inhabit the throat. Chocolate agar is enriched with lysed red blood cells, which allows for the growth of fastidious organisms that may not thrive on normal blood agar. This makes it particularly useful for isolating certain pathogens that may be present in throat swabs, such as Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Sheep blood agar, on the other hand, is a general-purpose, enriched medium that supports the growth of most bacteria, including Streptococcus species, which are commonly tested for in throat cultures due to their role in causing pharyngitis. Additionally, it allows for the observation of hemolysis patterns, which can aid in identifying specific bacterial species. Together, these media provide a broad spectrum of culturing possibilities, allowing the laboratory to identify both common and uncommon throat pathogens effectively.