← Combined Technical (NG)
Past Questions — 2026
Normal adult haemoglobin has:
A)
2 alpha and 2 delta chain
B)
2 alpha and 2 beta chain
C)
2 alpha and one beta chain
D)
2 alpha and 2 epsilon chain
Option B is correct: 2 alpha and 2 beta chain.
Bone pain in sickle cell crisis is due to:
A)
Fracture
B)
Bone & bone marrow infarction
C)
Hyperuricemia
D)
Osteoporosis
In sickle cell crisis, sickled red blood cells obstruct small blood vessels, causing ischemia and infarction of bone and bone marrow. This ischemic infarction produces severe bone pain. Fracture is not the usual cause, hyperuricemia is unrelated, and osteoporosis does not explain the acute crisis pain.
Inspect the specimen with naked eye and note description is:
A)
Tissue processing
B)
Grossing
C)
Visual description
D)
Surgical inspection
Option B is correct: Grossing.
Which solution is used as a counterstain in PAS staining method?
A)
Periodic acid
B)
Hydrochloric acid
C)
Haematoxylin
D)
Acid-alcohol
Option C is correct: Haematoxylin.
The current most common cause of cancer death among men in Mizoram is:
A)
Breast cancer
B)
Gastric carcinoma
C)
Esophageal cancer
D)
Cervical cancer
Option C is correct: Esophageal cancer.
Which of the following is not a dehydrating agent?
A)
Xylene
B)
Alcohol
C)
Acetone
D)
Dioxane
Option A is correct: Xylene.
Which of these conditions is an example of pathologic hyperplasia?
A)
Compensatory hyperplasia of the liver after partial hepatectomy
B)
Increased breast tissue after puberty
C)
Hyperplasia of the uterine lining due to excessive estrogen
D)
An increase in number of cells during wound healing
Pathologic hyperplasia is an abnormal, excessive increase in the number of cells due to hormonal imbalance or other stimuli. Excess estrogen causing endometrial (uterine lining) hyperplasia is a classic example.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) Compensatory hyperplasia of the liver after partial hepatectomy is a normal physiologic response.
- (b) Increased breast tissue after puberty is also physiologic hormonal hyperplasia.
- (d) Cell proliferation during wound healing is a normal reparative process, not pathologic hyperplasia.
What is the purpose of the ‘bluing’ step after applying Mayer’s Hematoxylin?
A)
To remove excess eosin
B)
To counterstain the cytoplasm
C)
To fix the tissue
D)
To shift the acidic stain to its blue alkaline form
Option D is correct: To shift the acidic stain to its blue alkaline form.
What is a common finding on a complete blood count (CBC) for a patient with multiple myeloma?
A)
Increased white blood cell count
B)
Rouleaux formation on smear
C)
Elevated platelet count
D)
Increases plasma cell in blood
Option B is correct: Rouleaux formation on smear.
Myeloperoxidase differentiates:
A)
acute myeloid from chronic myelocytic leukemia
B)
acute myeloid and acute monocytic from ALL
C)
acute myelomonocytic from acute monocytic leukemia
D)
acute lymphoblastic from acute myeloid leukemia
Option D is correct: acute lymphoblastic from acute myeloid leukemia.
The shelf life of whole blood with CPDA is:
A)
12 days
B)
21 days
C)
28 days
D)
35 days
Option D is correct: 35 days.
The unique biconcave disc shape of an RBC is advantageous for its function because:
A)
Provides a smooth, uniform surface for gas exchange
B)
Maximizes the surface area for efficient oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
C)
Prevents them from clumping together in blood vessels
D)
Reduces the risk of them being broken down in the spleen.
Option B is correct: Maximizes the surface area for efficient oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
DNA is duplicated in the cell cycle during:
A)
S phase
B)
G0 phase
C)
G1 phase
D)
G2 phase
Option A is correct: S phase.
What is the first step in the risk management process in the laboratory?
A)
Disposing of obsolete chemicals
B)
Identifying all potential hazards
C)
Writing standard operating procedures
D)
Conducting safety training
Option B is correct: Identifying all potential hazards.
The Orange G dye in the PAP stain specifically stain which type of cells?
A)
Connective tissue cells
B)
Epithelial cells
C)
Keratinized cells
D)
Bacterial cells
In the Papanicolaou (PAP) stain, Orange G (OG-6) is used to stain keratinized cells and keratinized material orange. It has an affinity for keratin, so it highlights superficial, fully cornified cells. Connective tissue cells and bacterial cells are not the specific target, and epithelial cells in general are mainly stained by other components of the PAP stain (such as hematoxylin and EA).
The total area of improved Neubauer chamber is:
A)
4 sq.mm
B)
6 sq.mm
C)
10 sq.mm
D)
9 sq.mm
Option D is correct: 9 sq.mm.
The primary role of cytology is describe as:
A)
Studying the structure of tissue
B)
Analyzing chemical reactions of tissue
C)
Examining individual cells for abnormalities
D)
Investigation of organ function
Cytology is the branch of biology/medical science that studies cells, especially their structure, function, and abnormalities. In diagnostic practice, it is mainly used to examine individual cells to detect abnormal changes such as cancerous or precancerous conditions. Option (a) refers to histology, which studies tissues. Option (b) is biochemistry, and option (d) is physiology.
Which of the following is a type of cancer that forms in bones and soft tissues, including muscle, fat and blood vessels?
A)
Lymphoma
B)
leukemia
C)
Sarcoma
D)
Carcinoma
Sarcoma is a cancer that arises from connective tissues such as bone, muscle, fat, cartilage, and blood vessels. Lymphoma starts in the lymphatic system, leukemia in blood-forming tissues and blood, and carcinoma in epithelial tissues (skin and lining of organs).
In a conventional PAP smear, what indicates an adequate specimen?
A)
Presence of endocervical/ transformation zone component
B)
High cellularity
C)
Absence of blood
D)
Presence of only squamous cells
Option A is correct: Presence of endocervical/ transformation zone component.
The average life span of platelets is:
A)
7- 10 days
B)
2 - 5 days
C)
10 - 15 days
D)
50 - 100 days
Option A is correct: 7- 10 days.
The procedure used to obtain a sample of ascitic fluid for analysis is:
A)
Thoracentesis
B)
Lumbar puncture
C)
Paracentesis
D)
Amniocentesis
Ascitic fluid is fluid collected in the peritoneal cavity (abdomen). The procedure used to remove this fluid for diagnostic analysis is **paracentesis**.
- **Thoracentesis** is used for pleural fluid from the chest cavity.
- **Lumbar puncture** is used to obtain cerebrospinal fluid.
- **Amniocentesis** is used to collect amniotic fluid during pregnancy.
Therefore, the correct answer is **Paracentesis**.
Ligaments and tendons are specialized types of:
A)
Muscular tissue
B)
Nervous tissue
C)
Connective tissue
D)
Epithelial tissue
Ligaments and tendons are made of dense regular connective tissue. Tendons connect muscle to bone, and ligaments connect bone to bone. They are not muscular, nervous, or epithelial tissues.
All of the following are blood parasites except:
A)
Plasmodium
B)
Brugia Malayi
C)
Giardia lamblia
D)
Leishmania
Option C is correct: Giardia lamblia.
The mucosa of esophagus is primarily lined by:
A)
Non-Keratinized stratified squamous
B)
Simple columnar
C)
Pseudostratified columnar
D)
Keratinized stratified squamous
The esophagus is lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which is well suited to resist abrasion from food passage. Simple columnar epithelium is typical of most of the stomach and intestines, pseudostratified columnar is found in parts of the respiratory tract, and keratinized stratified squamous epithelium is typical of skin and some oral regions, not the normal esophageal mucosa.
Which of the following blood component must be prepared within 8 hours after phlebotomy?
A)
Fresh frozen plasma
B)
Cryoprecipitate
C)
Packed red blood cells
D)
White blood cells
Option A is correct: Fresh frozen plasma.