Microbiology is the scientific study of microorganisms, which include viruses, bacteria and fungi. Microbiologists study the characteristics of these organisms using tools, like microscopes, genetics, and culturing. It is a fundamental understanding of how a cell works. The study of microbiology is an applied science that helps the healthcare and medicine sector widely to detect and diagnose disease. Samples of blood, bodily fluid and tissue are tested to establish whether there is an infection and what are its characteristics.