1 | P a g e
Syllabus for the Exam of Medical Laboratory Technician
to be Conducted by HPRCA
- SUBJECTS AS PER ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION
A. GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY: Introduction and history of Microbiology, Universal
work precautions and safety measures in Microbiology; Microbiological Safety Cabinets;
Care and maintenance of laboratory equipments; Care and handling of various
Microscopes, Handling and cleaning of glassware; Decontamination and disposal of
contaminated laboratory material; Laboratory organization management. Principles of
staining methods; Preparation of reagent; Preparation, uses and standardization of culture
media; Aerobic and Anaerobic culture methods; Principles and methods of sterilization;
Use and mode of action of antiseptics and disinfectants; Principles and mode of action of
antibiotics and antifungal agents; Antibiotic sensitivity testing; Biomedical waste
management, hand hygiene, PPE; Quality Control and Quality Assurance, Laboratory
Quality Management System, Care and handling of Laboratory animals; General
characteristics and classification of bacteria and fungi, Growth and nutrition of bacteria;
Collection, transportation and processing of clinical samples for microbiological
investigations. IMMUNOLOGY: Immunity, General characteristics and nature of antigens
and antibodies; Principles of methods of Antigen and Antibody reactions. VIROLOGY:
Introduction to virology and classification of viruses of medical importance; General
characteristics and properties of viruses; Collection, transport, processing and storage of
samples for viral diagnosis; Mode of transmission and laboratory diagnosis for viral
diseases; Prevention of viral diseases.
PARASITOLOGY: General characteristics and classification of protozoa; Laboratory
procedure collection, preservation & processing of samples for parasites in stool, blood,
fluids, tissue/ biopsy; Morphology, life cycle & lab diagnosis including cultivation
techniques of Intestinal protozoa: Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica; Morphology, life
cycle & lab diagnosis including cultivation techniques of free living Amoeba; Morphology,
life cycle & lab diagnosis including cultivation techniques of Vaginal flagellates,
Trichomonas vaginalis; Morphology, life cycle & lab diagnosis of Blood and tissue parasites
( Leishmania, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma) Morphology, life cycle & lab diagnosis of
Toxoplasma gondii.
B. HAEMATOLOGY: Lab Organization and Safety: Introduction to hematology and
laboratory organization, lab safety and instrumentation; Collection and preservation of
blood for various hematological investigations. Introduction to Basic Hematology:
Formation of blood – Composition and function of blood – Various anticoagulants, their
uses, mode of action and merits and de-merits; Physiological variation in Hb, PCV, TLC and
platelets ; Normal and absolute values in hematology; Quality assurance in hematology.
2 | P a g e
Hematological Investigations: Haemoglobinometery, various methods of estimation of Hb,
errors involved and standardization ; Haemocytometery, procedures for cell count, visual
as well as electronic, red cell, leucocytes and platelet count; Errors involved and mean to
minimize such errors; Differential leucocyte count Romanowsky dyes, preparation and
staining procedures of blood smears; Morphology of normal blood cells and their
identification; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, factors influencing ESR and various
procedures for its estimation with their significance; Hematocrit value by macro and micro
methods their merits and de-merits. CYTOLOGY – Introduction to exfoliative cytology with
special emphasis on female genital tract ; Collection, processing and staining of the
cytological specimen; Examination of biological fluids such as CSF etc.; Examination of
semen.
C. FUNDAMENTALS OF APPLIED HISTO-PATHOLOGY: Orientation: Medical lab science;
Introduction; Bio safety; Medical ethics – Medicolegal aspect of medical records – Basics of
emergency care and life support skills; Bio medical waste; Infection prevention and control;
Disaster management Good lab practices. Introduction to Histo-Pathology: Introduction to
histopathology and laboratory organization; Laboratory equipment, use and their
maintenance; Laboratory hazards and safety; Compound microscope-optical system,
magnification and maintenance. Anatomy and Physiology : The anatomic and
physiological organization of the human body and integrated physiology; Cell organization
and function; Skeletal system, bones, joints and muscles; Body fluids and their significance;
Blood morphology, chemistry and functions; Respiratory system; Cardiovascular system;
Alimentary system, mechanism and physiology of digestion and absorption; Liver structure
and function; Urinary system; Male genital system; Female genital system including breast;
Nervous system; Spleen, lymph node and RE system; Endocrine glands and their functions ;
Skin. Fundamentals of Applied Histo-Pathology: Reception recording and labeling of histopathology specimens; Fixation and various fixatives; Processing of histological tissue for
paraffin embedding; Embedding and embedding media; Decalcification; Microtomes –
various types, their working principle and maintenance; Microtome knives and their
sharpening; Practical section cutting, cutting faults and remedies; Routine staining
procedures, mounting and mounting media; Dye chemistry, theory and practice of staining;
Solvents, mordants, accelerators and accentuators; Uses of controls in various staining
procedures.
D. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY: Introduction to Biochemistry: Biophysical
aspects of biochemistry; the following topics only: Theory of acids and bases, ionization of
acids, the dissociation of water, hydrogenation concentration and PH, dissociation of acids
buffer solutions, determination of PH, titration using indicators. Carbohydrates: Chemistry
of carbohydrates, classification, physical and chemical properties and the biologic
importance of carbohydrates. Proteins: Biologic importance of proteins, hydrolytic
products of protein, classification of amino acids, classification of proteins and lipoproteins.
Lipids: Definition of oils and fats, fatty acids, classification of lipid, properties and biological
functions; biological importance of phospholipids and steroids. Nucleoproteins: Nucleic
acids, nucleotides, nucleosides and structure of nucleic acids, biologically important
nucleotides. Enzymes: Definition and nature of enzymes, classification, sites, factors
3 | P a g e
affecting enzyme reactions, coenzymes. Energy metabolism and nutrition: Calorific value,
respiratory quotient, BMR, specific dynamic action, energy requirements, dietary
carbohydrates, fiber, nutritional importance of lipids, essential fatty acids, cholesterol,
proteins and essential amino acids, nitrogen balance biological value of protein, protein
energy malnutrition. Chemistry and biological role of vitamins and trace elements. Basic
techniques: Theory of colorimetry, spectrophotometry and osmometry. Simple acid base
filtration, Aseptic techniques, centrifugation, sterilization, and disinfection. Biostatistics:
Basic mathematics and biostatistics, mean, median, SD, CV, Normal Distribution Curve.
POCT: concept and its use in Emergency patient management, use of Blood Gas Analyzer,
Electrolyte analyzer and cardiac marker analyzer etc. Working of Clinical Lab: Knowledge of
lab organization, reporting and recording procedures, Ethics of laboratory practice,
confidentiality of reports. Medico legal aspects of record keeping Method of sample
collection & transport: packing and storing of specimens, the concept of Pre analytical,
analytical and post analytical, Anticoagulants, mechanism of action and uses. – Importance
of labeling and identification of samples, different types of blood samples, Concept of
universal precautions, biohazard. – Handling of biomedical waste, waste segregation and
management including disposal and its record keeping – Laboratory accidents, prevention,
first aid, Needle stick injury. Inventory management: Routine stores used in the laboratory,
Stores supplies, indenting, shelf life, reagent kits storage in Lab, grades of chemicals
Principles and methods of ensuring of quality assurance in the Clinical Biochemistry Lab,
POCT in Emergency Lab. General Methodology during Lab posting of students: Students
should be made to acquire a general understanding of the organisation routine functioning
and operational standards of laboratories. Should be aware of the role of the laboratory in
patient care, and realize the importance of team building, together with technology
evolution Should be familiar with specimen collection procedures and aware of pre
analytical, analytical and post analytical stages of processing of specimens and errors which
can occur at each of these stages. Should be familiar with principles of equipment
maintenance, principles of laboratory safety and medico legal concerns. Should have an
idea of the principles of asepsis and sterilization. Should be introduced to the concept of
quality assurance, Principles and methods of ensuring of quality assistance in the
laboratory Should be able to use LIS (Lab information system), generation of bar codes and
their use.
E. ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY & METABOLISM: Carbohydrates: Digestion & absorption,
metabolism of glucose, glycolysis, glycogen formation and breakdown, glycogen storage
disease, maintenance of blood sugar levels, hormonal influence, diabetes mellitus,
Interconversion of monosaccharides. Digestion of proteins: urea synthesis, creatinine
synthesis& degradation, Transamination, metabolism of amino acids. Lipids-digestion &
absorption of lipids: synthesis of fatty acids, oxidation of fatty acids, cholesterol synthesis,
introduction to eicasanoids, prostaglandins. Purines and pyrimidine metabolism: basic
metabolic processes and disorders like Gout etc. Hormones: Role of biologically important
hormones. Pituitary hormones, thyroid, adrenal cortex and medulla and sex hormones.
Mechanism of control diseases and biochemical tests for under and over production.
Mineral metabolism: regulation of blood level; consequences of excess and deficiency of
4 | P a g e
calcium, phosphate, and iron. Haemoglobin and Porphyrias: Structure of haem,
biosynthesis, porphyrias, catabolism of haem, hemoglobin quaternary structure, structure
of myoglobin, transport of gases, oxygen dissociation of curves, isohydric transport of CO2
fetal Hb, carboxy haemoglobin, methaemoglobin. Electrophoresis of serum, urine and CSF,
its usefulness in diagnosis, different patterns observed and function of acute phase
reactants, Formation and composition of cerebrospinal fluid in disease. Techniques: RIA,
CLIA, ELISA, Chromatography, Electrophoresis, ISE & Flame Photometry etc.
F. FUNDAMENTAL OF HEAMATOLOGY: HAEMATOLOGY : Bone marrow aspiration,
composition and functions Staining of bone marrow smears and Preparation of Histologic
sections Hemoglobin, synthesis , function and degradation Hemoglobin pigment and their
measurement Abnormal hemoglobin and their means of identification and estimation LE
cell phenomenon and various methods of its demonstration Haemostatic mechanism and
theories of blood coagulation Physiochemical properties of coagulation factors Screening
coagulation procedures Quantitative assay of coagulation factors Quality control in
automation Quality control method in cell count Preperation of various anticoagulants and
reagents Errors in sampling, mixing, diluting and counting of cell counts Introduction and
importance of calibration and validation of lab equipments Types of laboratory glassware
and their cleaning Reticulocyte count and its preparation. BLOOD BANKING: History and
discovery of blood group system ABO and Rhesus blood group system Compatability tests
in blood transfusion, complications and hazards of blood transfusion Laboratory
investigation of transfusion reaction and mismatched transfusion Preparation of packed
cells and various function of blood for transfusion purposes.
G. BASIC CELLULAR PATHOLOGY& ALLIED TECHNIQUES: a) HISTOPATHOLOGY-Epithelial
tissue: Connective tissue including bone and cartilage; Gland, epithelial, endocrine;
Nervous tissue; Muscular tissue. Histological study of various system of the body: The
circulatory system The alimentary system The digestive system including liver pancreas and
gall bladder The respiratory system The urinary system The system of endocrine glands The
reproductive system Nerve endings and organs of special senses including eye ball
CNS.Fundamentals of applied histology: Microscopy working principle, maintainance and
application of various system of microscope, Dark ground microscope, Polarizing
microscope Phase contrast microscope Interference microscope UV light microscope
Fluorescence microscope Micrometry ; Histological equipments, types, working and
maintainance Staining techniques and their interpretation Haematoxylin stain its
importance in histology Connective tissues, trichrome staining and other special stains for
muscle fiber,elastic,reticulin fibers and collagen fiber Principal of metal impregnation
techniques Demonstration and identification of minerals and pigments Metachromasia and
metachromatic dyes Carbohydrate and amyloid-special stains and procedure Biomedical
waste managementand disposal. b) CYTOLOGY: Oganization of cytology laboratory Stains,
cytologic preparation with special emphasis on MGG, Papanicolou stains Demonstration of
cells in cervical smears- PAP staining. Special stains like PAS, Mucicarmine, Alcian blue,
Schmori and acid phosphatase Cytologic screening and quality control in cytology lab
Composition, function, preservation and storage of various body fluids Laboratory safety
5 | P a g e
and first aid Collection, preservation, processing and fixing of various cytological
specimens.
H. IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA (SYSTEMIC MICROBIOLOGY): Systemic Bacteriology –
Identification of bacteria: Staphylococcus Streptococcus Pneumococcus Bacillus Neisseria
Corynebacterium Clostridium and other anaerobes Enterobacteriaceae Classification and
general characteristic E. coli, Klebsiella Pseudomonas Salmonella Proteus Shigella
Yersinia Burkholderia Vibrio Haemophilius, Bordetella and Brucella Mycobacterium
tuberculosis and methods of anti-tubercular drugs sensitivity testing Atypical Mycobacteria
and Mycobacterium leprae Spirochaetes — Treponema, Leptospira and Borrelia Chlamydia
Rickettsia Mycoplasma Nocardia, Actinomycetes. Virology: Respiratory viruses —
Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Mumps ; Viral exanthems — HSV, VZV, Measles, Rubella; Viruses
causing diarrhoea with special reference to Rota virus. Parasitology : Morphology, life cycle
& lab diagnosis of Intestinal cestodes – T. Saginata, Echinoqoccus granulosis, Hymenolepis
nana D. latum, Taenia solium Trematodes — Classification and general characteristics ;
Morphology, life cycle & lab diagnosis of Schistosoma spp. Mycology: Introduction,
classification and laboratory diagnosis of fungi Antifungal susceptibility testing Superficial
mycoses — Dermatophytosis Subcutaneous mycoses — Mycetoma, Sporotrichosis,
Chromoblastomycosis, Phaeohyphomycosis.
I. APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY: General Applied Micrbiology Preservation of microbes and
lyophilization methods Total and viable counts of bacteria Testing of disinfectants Types of
vaccines and immunization schedules Bacteriological examination of water and air Hospital
associated infections Processing of various samples for surveillance/ infection control
Epidemiological markers — Serotyping, bacteriophage typing, bacterocin typing
Automation in Microbiology 10) Point of care testing. Infective syndromes Laboratory
diagnosis of pyogenic infections Laboratory diagnosis of Respiratory tract infection
Laboratory diagnosis of meningitis Laboratory diagnosis of food poisoning Laboratory
diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin Laboratory diagnosis of acute diarrhoeal disease
Laboratory diagnosis of Urinary tract infection Laboratory diagnosis of Sexually transmitted
diseases. Immunology: Structure and function of immune system; Immune response ;
Hypersensitivity reactions ; Molecular techniques. Mycology: Systemic mycoses —
Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Paracoccidiodes; Opportunistic fungal infections
— Candidiasis, Cryptococcus, Aspergillosis, Zygomycosis/Mucormycosis. Parasitology:
General characteristics and classification of nematodes; Morphology, life cycle & lab
diagnosis of— Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichura, Enterobius vermicularis,
Strongyloides stercoralis, Anchylostoma duodenale, Necator americanis, Filarial nematodes
; Culture methods of hookworm, roundworm, egg- counting techniques ; Identification and
characteristics of insect vectors — mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas. Virology: Viruses causing
meningitis- Rabies virus, Polio virus & Japanese encephalitis; Viruses causing Hepatitis —
Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E ; Viruses causing blood stream infections – HIV ; Arboviruses –
Dengue, chikungunya.
J. APPLIED HAEMATOLOGY: Definition and classification of anemia Laboratory
investigations of megaloblastic anemia Laboratory investigations of iron deficiency anemia
Hemolytic anemia: Causes & Laboratory investigations Study and interpretationof
6 | P a g e
Histogram of Automated blood cell counts Leukemia: Definition and classification
Cytochemical stains in various hematological disorders Laboratory tests for assessing
bleeding disorders Laboratory investigations for DIC Tests for fibrinolysis and their
interpretation Platelet function tests and their interpretation Techniques available for
cytogenetic studies Uses of radioisotopes in hematology & Safety measures for handling
radioisotopes Hemoglobinopathies: Work up including Hb HPLC and Gel electrophoresis.
Flow cytometry and its applications. Diagnostic Molecular techniques- PCR, Gel
electrophoresis, Western blot methods and their applications.
K. SPECIAL HISTOLOGY AND HISTO-CHEMICAL METHODS: Histopathology: Handling of
histological specimens, cryo/frozen sections of fresh and fixed tissues. Lipids : their
identification and demonstration Microorganism in tissues, various staining techniques and
their demonstration and identification Nucleic acid, DNA and RNA: Special stains
Cytopasmic constituents and their demonstration Tissues requiring special treatment i.e
eyeball, bone marrow biopsy, uncaclifed bones Neuropathological techniques Enzyme
histochemistry demonstration of phosphates, dehydrogenases oxidase and peroxidase
Electron microscope working principle, componentsand tech Museum techniques. Organ
autopsy techniques. Immunfluorescence technique — Principle, methods and uses. IHC—
Principal and various common markers used Grossing of various Histopathological
specimens and their processing. Immunopathology: Cells and organs of immune system
Immunoglobulins antibodies and humoral immune system Allergy & Hypersensitivity
reactions Rheumatological diseases and their investigations Cancer immunology Tissue
typing for organ transplant with special emphasis on kidney transplants. Cytology: Cervical
cytology basis of detection of malignant and premalignant lesions Fine needle aspiration
cytology: Principle, Indications and its utility Liquid based technology, Cytospin technology
and cell block preparation and its utility.
L. CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY: Liver functions including bile pigment metabolism & bile salts.
Acid base balance including blood gas analysis & renal function tests Lipoprotein
metabolism – Gastric function tests – Enzymes of clinical importance – Principles & basic
methods of automation – Principles of available diagnostic kits/reagents Theory of
competitive immuno assay, immunometric assay & immune turbidometry DNA structure,
replication, transcription& protein bio synthesis, nucleoproteins, introns, exons. –
Replication , DNA polymers, cell cycle, repair enzymes, linear damage& repair, restriction
endonucleases, messenger RNA transcription, elongation, termination, post transcriptional
processing, transfer RNA , protein synthesis, genetic code, translation, initiation,
elongation, termination, post translational processing, inhibitors of protein synthesis,
mitochondrial DNA & RNA, operon hypothesis – Overview of some inborn errors of
metabolism – Diagnostic usefulness of recombinant DNA technology. Defects arising from
genetic mutations in familial hypercholesterolemia, cyctic fibrosis, amino acid disorders,
organic acidurias, galactosemia & fructose intolerance. – Biochemistry of cancer: Etiology of
cancer, mutagens, carcinogens, selected tumor markers, alpha Feto protein, CEA,PSA, betaHCG, VMA, tumor markers in myeloma, Bence Jones proteins, beta-2- Microglobulin.
M. ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE: Water Purification at household level; Water Pollution —
causes & its health impacts; Swachh Bharat Abhiyan; Air Pollution- causes & its health
7 | P a g e
impacts; Prevention & control of measure for air pollution; Noise pollution- its effects &
control measures; Biomedical Waste management; Radiation Exposure- its health effects &
reduction measures ; E- waste Management ; Universal Precautions in Hospitals;
Biodiversity- its types & conservation; Ecosystem — its structural & functional aspects;
Green House Effect ; Environment Health Education — Aims, objectives & its importance ;
Methods of Environment Awareness in Community; Natural resources- overexploitation &
methods for its replenishment ; Population explosion — its impact & control measures ;
Entomology & Pest Control; Water Harvesting ; Climate Change & its impact. - GENERAL AWARENESS
(a) General knowledge: General Knowledge including General knowledge of
Himachal Pradesh.
(b)Current Affairs .
(c) Everyday Science .
(d) Logical Reasoning .
(e) Social Science (10th standard).
(f) General English (10th standard).
(g) General Hindi (10th standard).