15 original AIIMS CRE-style MLT practice questions

Preparing for the AIIMS CRE Lab Technician examination? Practicing previous-year-style questions can help candidates understand important Medical Laboratory Technology concepts, identify weak areas and prepare for the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

In this article, you'll find 15 practice MCQs with answers and explanations covering Hematology, Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Blood Banking, Clinical Pathology, Histopathology and Laboratory Quality Control.

Note: These are independently prepared, exam-oriented practice questions. They are not claimed to be questions actually asked in previous AIIMS CRE examinations.

AIIMS CRE Group 17 Exam Pattern

According to the AIIMS CRE-5 recruitment notification, Group 17 covers laboratory-related posts, including Junior Medical Laboratory Technologist, Laboratory Technician and related positions.

Exam details Information
Examination AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination
Group Group 17 – Medical Laboratory Technology
Total questions 100 MCQs
Domain-specific questions 80
General Knowledge, Aptitude & Computer 20
Duration 90 minutes
Maximum marks 400
Correct answer +4 marks
Incorrect answer −1 mark

The examination has five time-limited sections of 20 questions each. Candidates cannot return to an earlier section after its allotted time expires.

15 AIIMS CRE Lab Technician Practice Questions

Try answering each question before checking the correct answer and explanation.

Hematology MCQs

A patient's hemoglobin is 9 g/dL and RBC count is 3 million/µL. What is the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: 30 pg

MCH = Hemoglobin (g/dL) × 10 / RBC count (million/µL). MCH = 9 × 10 / 3 = 30 pg. MCH indicates the average amount of hemoglobin present in an individual red blood cell.

Which of the following coagulation factors is primarily assessed by the prothrombin time (PT) but not by the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Factor VII

PT assesses the extrinsic and common coagulation pathways. Factor VII belongs to the extrinsic pathway and is primarily assessed by PT. Factors VIII, IX and XI belong to the intrinsic pathway assessed by aPTT.

Which laboratory finding is most characteristic of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Increased total iron-binding capacity

Iron deficiency anemia typically shows reduced serum iron, reduced ferritin, increased TIBC and decreased transferrin saturation. Microcytosis and hypochromia are common findings.

Microbiology MCQs

Which staining method is routinely used to demonstrate acid-fast bacilli in clinical specimens?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Ziehl–Neelsen staining

Ziehl–Neelsen staining is a conventional method for detecting acid-fast bacilli such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Acid-fast organisms retain carbol fuchsin despite acid-alcohol decolorization because of their lipid-rich cell walls.

A Gram-positive coccus isolated from a clinical specimen is catalase-positive and coagulase-positive. Which organism is most likely?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is typically catalase-positive and coagulase-positive. Staphylococcus epidermidis is usually coagulase-negative, while streptococci and enterococci are generally catalase-negative.

Which culture medium is both selective and differential for enteric Gram-negative bacteria based on lactose fermentation?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: MacConkey agar

MacConkey agar inhibits many Gram-positive bacteria and differentiates lactose-fermenting from non-lactose-fermenting Gram-negative organisms. Lactose fermenters generally produce pink colonies.

Clinical Biochemistry MCQs

Which enzyme is relatively more specific for hepatocellular injury?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Alanine aminotransferase

ALT is relatively more liver-specific than AST. Elevated ALT is commonly associated with hepatocellular injury, although interpretation requires clinical context and other laboratory findings.

A laboratory reports serum sodium as 140 mmol/L, chloride as 104 mmol/L and bicarbonate as 16 mmol/L. What is the calculated anion gap, excluding potassium?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: 20 mmol/L

Anion gap = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Anion gap = 140 − (104 + 16) = 20 mmol/L. This is above the usual reference range for many laboratories, although the reference interval and serum albumin concentration should be considered.

Blood Banking and Immunology MCQs

Which antibody is primarily detected by the direct antiglobulin test (DAT)?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Antibodies bound to red blood cells in vivo

DAT detects immunoglobulin and/or complement already attached to circulating red blood cells. It is useful in the investigation of immune hemolytic anemia and certain transfusion reactions.

A patient's red blood cells agglutinate with anti-A and anti-D reagents but not with anti-B. What is the most likely ABO/RhD group?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A positive

Agglutination with anti-A indicates the presence of A antigen, while anti-D reactivity indicates RhD positivity. No agglutination with anti-B supports blood group A rather than AB.

Clinical Pathology MCQs

Which urinary cast is most characteristic of acute tubular injury?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Muddy brown granular cast

Muddy brown granular casts are characteristic of acute tubular injury. RBC casts suggest glomerular bleeding, while fatty casts are associated with significant lipiduria, commonly in nephrotic syndrome.

Which cerebrospinal fluid finding is most consistent with acute bacterial meningitis?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Neutrophilic predominance with decreased glucose

Acute bacterial meningitis commonly produces neutrophilic pleocytosis, elevated CSF protein and reduced CSF glucose relative to blood glucose. Findings can vary with the organism and stage of illness.

Histopathology and Laboratory Techniques MCQs

Which fixative is most commonly used for routine histopathological tissue specimens?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: 10% neutral buffered formalin

Ten percent neutral buffered formalin is widely used for routine tissue fixation. It preserves tissue architecture through protein cross-linking and is compatible with standard paraffin processing.

Which principle is used by a spectrophotometer to relate absorbance to analyte concentration under suitable conditions?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: Beer–Lambert law

The Beer–Lambert law relates absorbance to the concentration of an absorbing substance and the optical path length, under appropriate conditions. It forms the basis of many quantitative biochemical assays.

Quality Control MCQs

In laboratory quality control, the Westgard 1₃s rule is violated when:

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: One control exceeds ±3 SD

The Westgard 1₃s rejection rule is triggered when a single control result exceeds the mean by more than three standard deviations. It indicates a potentially significant analytical error requiring investigation.

How to Prepare Using Previous-Year-Style MCQs

Practicing isolated questions helps test factual knowledge, but candidates should also develop the ability to interpret laboratory findings and select the correct investigation or technique.

For effective preparation:

  1. Practice subject-wise MCQs: Start with Hematology, Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry and Blood Banking before covering the remaining subjects.

  2. Review incorrect answers: Understand why each distractor is incorrect instead of memorizing only the correct option.

  3. Revise important laboratory values: Become familiar with reference intervals, calculation formulas, coagulation tests and common diagnostic patterns.

  4. Attempt mixed-subject mock tests: Practice moving between topics under examination conditions.

  5. Use timed practice: Build confidence in answering questions within the 90-minute CBT duration.

Attempt a AIIMS CRE Lab Technician Mock Practice

You've completed 15 practice questions. The next step is to test your preparation under examination conditions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many questions are asked in AIIMS CRE Group 17?

The CRE-5 examination consists of 100 MCQs, including 80 domain-specific questions and 20 questions related to general knowledge, aptitude and computer knowledge.

2. Are these actual AIIMS CRE previous-year questions?

No. The questions in this article are original practice MCQs designed around standard Medical Laboratory Technology concepts relevant to Group 17 preparation.

3. What subjects should I prepare for AIIMS CRE Lab Technician?

Candidates should prepare Medical Laboratory Technology subjects such as Hematology, Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Blood Banking, Clinical Pathology, Histopathology, Laboratory Instruments and Quality Control. These are recommended subject areas, not an officially published chapter-wise marks distribution.

4. Is there negative marking in AIIMS CRE?

Yes. Under the CRE-5 examination scheme, each correct response earns four marks, and each incorrect response results in a deduction of one mark.

5. Where can I practice more AIIMS CRE laboratory questions?

Candidates can use MLT Recall's free daily practice, subject-wise MCQs and full-length mock tests to continue preparing.

Official reference: AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination CRE-5, Detailed Recruitment Advertisement, Notice No. 93/2026, Section IX: Pattern/Scheme/Syllabus of Examination.

Official website: https://www.aiimsexams.ac.in

Disclaimer: MLT Recall is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with AIIMS or any government recruitment authority. Candidates should consult official notifications for recruitment and examination updates.