Second Paper Syllabus Lab Assistant

Second Paper Syllabus Overview: Lab Assistant:

Total Marks: 100

• Objective Section (Part A): 30 questions × 2 marks = 60 Marks

• Subjective Section (Part B):

  • Short Questions: 12 questions × 5 marks = 60 Marks

  • Long Questions: 4 questions × 10 marks = 40 Marks

PART A: Microbiology (Total 60 marks – Objective)

1.1 Bacteriology

You'll be asked about:

• Basics of bacteria (structure, shapes, types)

• Gram staining principle and identification (Gram +ve vs -ve)

• Sample collection: pus, urine, sputum, throat swab, blood

• Use of dyes and staining methods

• Mycobacteria: especially M. tuberculosis & M. leprae

• Sputum smear preparation

• Sterilization methods (dry heat, moist heat)

• Culture media & culture techniques for blood, urine, etc.

• Disinfectants: types, preparation, use

• Lab safety: infection control, waste disposal

1.2 Parasitology

You’ll need to know:

• Basic terms in parasitology and classification

• Life cycle, diagnosis, transmission, and prevention of:

  • Helminths: Ascaris, Hookworm, Taenia, etc.

  • Protozoa: Giardia, Entamoeba, Trichomonas

• Amoebic vs Bacillary dysentery

• Difference between E. coli and E. histolytica

• Lab procedures:

  • Sample collection (mainly stool)

  • Preparation of reagents (iodine, saline, zinc sulfate)

  • Occult blood test

  • Waste disposal in parasitology

PART B: Haematology (Subjective Section Focus)

2.1 Basics of Blood

• Understand the components of blood:

  • Plasma

  • Serum

  • Whole blood

2.2 Blood Sample Collection

• Methods:

  • Finger prick

  • Vein puncture

  • Earlobe prick

2.3 Anticoagulants

• Types (EDTA, heparin, etc.)

• Uses and how to prepare anticoagulant vials

2. Haematology (Subjective-heavy section)

Instruments & Procedures

• Sahli's haemoglobinometer – use for Hb estimation

• Haemocytometer, Neubauer chamber – for counting WBC, RBC, platelets

• Diluting pipettes – RBC (red tip), WBC (white tip)

• ESR tubes – Westergren and Wintrobe methods

• Blood diluting fluid preparation – Turk’s fluid (WBC), Hayem’s fluid (RBC)

Lab Techniques

• Thin and thick smears – for malaria, WBC differential count

• Total counts – WBC, RBC, Platelet count

• Differential WBC count – neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, monocyte, lymphocyte

• ESR estimation – Wintrobe and Westergren

• Haemoglobin estimation – Sahli’s and Drabkin’s methods

• Standard curve – plotting OD vs concentration (Hb, glucose etc.)

• BT/CT – Bleeding Time, Clotting Time

• Stains – Wright’s stain preparation & principle

• Blood parasites – Malaria (Plasmodium), Filaria (W. bancrofti)

• Blood grouping – ABO & Rh

• Sources of errors – pipetting, contamination, wrong dilutions

• Quality control – accuracy, calibration, duplicate testing

3. Biochemistry

3.1 Basic Concepts

• Matter, atom, molecule, elements, compounds

• Normal solution preparation

• Cleaning of glassware – detergent, chromic acid solution

3.2 Instruments

• Colorimeter – used for glucose, urea, etc.

• Centrifuge, Refrigerator, Balance

• Colorimetry – Beer's & Lambert's Law

3.3 Tests & Reagents

• Blood glucose estimation – std. curve, errors

• Blood urea – interpretation & sources of error

• Reagents – Benedict’s, Glucose reagent, Urea reagent

• Serum Amylase – estimation and result calculation

• CSF Analysis – glucose, protein, cell count, Gram’s stain, AFB stain

4. Miscellaneous

4.1 Urine Analysis

• Importance

• Sample collection – mid-stream urine

• Preservation – refrigeration, boric acid

• Urinary deposit examination – microscopic

• Albumin test – Heat & Acetic Acid, SSA method, Strip test

• Glucose test – Benedict’s method, strip test

• Benedict’s reagent – preparation from sodium carbonate, sodium citrate, copper sulfate

4.2 Semen Analysis

• Volume, motility, sperm count

4.3 Instrumentation

• Microscope – parts and handling

• Lab Equipment – incubator, oven, water bath, balance, colorimeter

• Glassware – test tubes, flasks, measuring cylinders (basic lab use)

• 4.4 Immunology

• VDRL and HIV Tests: Learn procedures, handling, and interpretation of results.

• Precipitation: Antigen-antibody reaction forming an insoluble complex.

• Agglutination: Clumping of cells/particles due to antibody action.

• Flocculation: Formation of visible flake-like precipitate in a liquid.

  Quality Control

  • Gram's Stain & AFB Microscopy: Ensure accuracy by using controls, proper reagents, and slide preparation.

  • TC, DC, Hemoglobin, ESR: Maintain consistency through equipment calibration and standard technique.

  • Blood Sugar & Blood Urea: Use standard curves, quality reagents, and controlled testing conditions.

  Basic Anatomy and Physiology

  Digestive System

  • Ptylin (salivary amylase): Breaks down starch in the mouth.

  • Pancreatic amylase: Continues starch digestion in the small intestine.

  Urinary System:

  • Kidney: Filters blood to form urine.

  • Ureter: Carries urine to the bladder.

  • Bladder: Stores urine until excretion.