DETAILED SYLLABUS FOR THE POST OF

LABORATORY ASSISTANT- DIRECT RECRUITMENT

IN KERALA LIVE STOCK DEVELOPMENT BOARD LTD
AND BLOOD BANK TECHNICIAN GRADE II - DIRECT RECRUITMENT
IN MEDICAL EDUCATION SERVICE

(Category Nos: 258/2023, 678/2023)

PATHOLOGY
Module 1 Hematology (5 Marks)

1.1 Composition of blood, anticoagulants, blood cell count, Hematopoiesis, blood

cell, morphology - normal and abnormal, functions of blood, thin and thick smear,
staining of blood films, different stains used, demonstration of blood cells, bone
marrow smear, sickle cell preparation, LE cell preparation, leukemia,
demonstration of blood parasites.

1.2 Hemoglobin – Functions, normal and abnormal hemoglobin, estimation

methods, anemia.

1.3 PCV, ESR, blood cell indices, osmotic fragility

1.4 Blood coagulation and homeostasis, disorders of coagulation, coagulation

tests, factor analysis

Module 2 Clinical pathology - Basic techniques (5 Marks)

2.1 Urine analysis – Physical, chemical, microscopy, examination of faeces,

sputum, cerebrospinal fluid, other body fluids, semen analysis.

Module 3 Histotechnology (5 Marks)

3.1 Brief introduction to histology, design of a histology laboratory, reception and

recording of specimens, basic knowledge about the various types of tissues and
characteristics that influence their processing.

3.2 Fixatives – Purpose, ideal fixatives, common and important fixatives, removal
of formalin pigment and deposits from sections, decalcification – method,
preparation of reagents used.

3.3 Microtome – Principle and maintenance of different types of microtomes,

microtome knives and types, sharpening of knives and their care.

3.4 Preparation of paraffin sections – Tissue processing, different steps,

embedding, principles and uses of vacuum and paraffin embedding, treatment of
blocks before cutting, automatic tissue processors, recognition and correction of
faults occurring in blocks and sections, storage of blocks, defects of processing
and rectification of defects.

3.5 Staining and mounting – Principles of staining, common and special stains-
preparation and procedure, Immunohistochemistry – basic principles, methods,
storage of sections.

3.6 Frozen sections – Freezing microtomes – Principles, use, preparation of frozen

sections and staining, advantage of frozen sections, cryostat.

Module 4 Cytology (5 Marks)

4.1 Important applications of cytology, collection of specimens -gynaecological

and non-gynaecological, preparation of smears, fixation, Papanicolaou staining
method, Shorr’s stain, other stains used in cytology, preparation of stains, buccal
smear- Barr body demonstration.

4.2 Fine needle aspiration cytology, concentration techniques in cytology-

centrifugation, cyto-centrifugation, membrane filters, cell blocks

4.3 Liquid based cytology-monolayer preparation

Module 5 Cytogenetics (5 Marks)

5.1 Karyotyping-methods of chromosome analysis with blood and bone marrow,

banding techniques, general aspects of chromosomes, chromosome defects,
advanced methods in cytogenetics.

Module 6 Blood banking (5 Marks)

Theoretical aspects of blood grouping and blood banking, nature of blood cell
antigens, mode of inheritance, general characteristics, antigen- antibody concept.

6.1 ABO and Rh blood group system, other blood group systems ABO grouping
and Rh typing technique, direct and indirect Coomb’s test, compatibility testing.

6.2 Donor selection, Screening of donors, collection and storage of blood,

anticoagulants used in blood transfusion, preservation and storge of blood,
preparation of blood components and their storage

6.3 Transfusion reactions, transmission of diseases through blood transfusion,

apheresis, plasma pheresis, automation and recent developments in blood bank.
 MICROBIOLOGY

Module 1 General Microbiology (6 Marks)

1.1 History and scope of microbiology, laboratory safety and personal protection
1.2 Sterilization and disinfection- different methods and their applications,
biomedical waste management
1.3 Guidelines on laboratory procedures- reception, recording and handling of
specimens, cultures and laboratory wastes
1.4 Microscopes- Compound Microscope, Darkfield, Phase contrast, Fluorescent &
Electron Microscopy.

Module 2 Bacteriology (6 Marks)

2.1 Morphology of bacteria, growth requirements, culture media, pH adjustment,

sterilization and storage of media, culture methods
2.2 Staining- simple, differential, special- principle, methods and application
2.3 Methods of study of bacteria- scheme of identification, study of medically
important bacteria- role in infection, important diseases, laboratory diagnosis,
microbial flora in health and diseases.
2.4 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing- antimicrobials in common use, preparation
and storage of antimicrobial discs for susceptibility testing, different methods of
testing, use of antimicrobials in the identification of bacteria.
2.5 Clinical bacteriology- sample collection, containers, collection of different
types of specimens, transportation, storage, use of transport media and
preservatives in transportation
2.6 Processing of specimens- microscopy, culture, biochemical identification,
serological identification, pathogenicity tests and antibiotic susceptibility tests.
2.7 Serological tests and rapid techniques for the diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Module 3 Parasitology (6 Marks)

3.1 Morphology and classification- Protozoa, helminths, common and important

diseases caused by them, details of morphology, life cycle and laboratory
diagnosis.
3.2 Clinical parasitology- collection of specimens, transportation and storage
3.3 Processing of specimens- blood smear- thin and thick for protozoan parasites,
microfilaria, stool examination for parasitic ova, larvae, their identification,
concentration methods, staining techniques.
3.4 Serological diagnosis and other rapid tests for diagnosis.

Module 4 Mycology (6 Marks)

4.1 Introduction- classification of fungi, dimorphic fungi, common contaminant

fungi- morphology, culture characteristics and identification of fungi
4.2 common fungal diseases- cutaneous, sub-cutaneous/mucous, systemic and
opportunistic
4.3 Clinical mycology- collection of specimens and transportation
4.4 Processing of specimens- microscopy, culture media and techniques

Module 5 Virology (6 Marks)

5.1 Introduction to virology- structure, classification-DNA viruses, RNA viruses,

morphology, cultivation and identification of viruses, medically important viral
diseases.
5.2 Clinical virology- collection, transportation and storage of specimens, special
care in handling specimens.
5.3 Processing of specimens- staining, fluorescent antibody techniques, viral
isolation methods and identification of viruses, viral inclusion bodies in diagnosis.
5.4 Serological techniques in diagnosis of viral infections

BIOCHEMISTRY

Module 1.1 Composition of glass, Varieties, Grades of glassware, Cleaning of

glassware.
1.2 Calibration of pipettes and other volumetric apparatus. (2 Marks)

Module 2. Laboratory safety- Laboratory hazards and safety, Universal safety

precautions. First aid in the laboratory. (1 Mark)

Module 3. Grades of chemicals, Secondary standard chemicals, Storage of

chemicals. (1 Mark)

Module 4. Preparation and storage of distilled water, Deionized water, pyrogen

free distilled water. Evaluation of water purity. (1 Mark)

Module 5. Units of measurement -SI units and Non SI units. (1 Mark)

Module 6.1 Preparation of normal, molar and percentage solutions.

6.2 Dilution of solution, Interconversion of concentration- Normal, Molar, Molal
and Percentage solutions. (1 Mark)

Module 7.1 Collection, Preparation, Transportation, Processing and Disposal of

biological specimens in a Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory.
7.2 Preparation and use of anticoagulants.
7.3 Urine preservation. (3 Marks)

Module 8.1 Laboratory Instruments – Principle, Use and Maintenance of

Colorimeter, Spectrophotometer, Fluorimeter, Nephelometer, Flame photometer,
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Luminometers, Centrifuges, Magnetic
stirrer, Vortex mixer, pH meter. (1 Mark)
Module 9.1 Radioisotopes, Basic principles of radioactivity , Detection and
Measurement of Radioactivity ,Application of Radioactivity. (1 Mark)

Module 10.1 Buffer solution , Henderson Hasselbach equation

10.2 pH indicators.
10.3 Body buffer system, Respiratory and renal disturbances in acid base
balance, Anion gap, Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, Respiratory acidosis and
alkalosis, Fluid and electrolyte balance, Osmolality, Methodology of measuring
Blood pH, PCO2 and PO2.
10.4 Physical chemistry- Osmosis, Dialysis, Donnan Membrane Equilibrium,
Viscosity, Surface tension, Properties of colloids, Emulsion,, Adsorption, Partition
coefficient, (2 Marks)

Module 11.1 Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates, Proteins and Lipids.

(1 Mark)

Module 12.1 Chemistry of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic acids.

12.2 Metabolism of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, Minerals.
Common Inborn errors and disorders of metabolism.
12.3 Vitamins and coenzymes of vitamins, Estimation of vitamins.
12.4 Nutrition-Nutritional importance and calorific values of food.
12.5 Hemoglobin-Function, Synthesis and degradation of heme, Hemoglobin
derivatives, hemoglobin Variants, Jaundice, Congenital disorders of heme
metabolism.
12.6 Porphyria, Disorders of porphyrin metabolism, Laboratory diagnosis of
porphyriasis (3 Marks)

Module 13.1 Enzymes-Classification, Co-enzymes, Co factor, Mechanism of

enzyme action, Enzyme kinetics, MM constant, Enzyme inhibition, Regulatory
enzymes.
13.2 Clinical Enzymology-Enzyme Activity Determination, End point and Kinetic
Assay. Principle and methods for the activity determination of Acid phosphatase,
Alkaline phosphatase, Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, Amylase,
Lipase, Lactate dehydrogenase, Creatinine Kinase, Glucose 6- Phosphate
Dehydrogenase, 5’ Nucleotidase, Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase, Choline
esterase.
13.3 Isoenzymes and its diagnostic importance in cases of MI, Liver disease,
Muscular disease. (3 Marks)
Module 14 Hormones- General properties and functions of hormones. Mechanism
of hormone action, Hypothalamic hormones, Pituitary hormones, Hormones of
Pancreas, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal cortex, Adrenal medulla and Gonad.
Different methods of estimation of hormones and hormone metabolites.
(1 Mark)

Module 15.1 Molecular Biology- DNA replication and repair mechanism.

Transcription and Genetic code, Translation, Post translational modification,
Protein folding and protein targeting.
15.2 Molecular Biology Techniques-Recombinant DNA Technology, Blotting
techniques, PCR, FISH.
15.3 Cloning, Genomic library. (3 Marks)

Module 16.1 Urine – Composition of normal urine, Abnormal constituents

-Qualitative and Quantitative tests.
16.2 Urinary screening test for metabolic inherited disorders.
16.3 Estimation of VMA, 17 ketosteroid, 5HIAA, Oestriol from urine.
16.4 Clearance test- creatinine, urea and inulin.
16.5 CSF and other body fluids- Composition and chemical analysis of CSF,
Synovial fluid, Peritoneal, Pericardial and Amniotic fluid. (2 Marks)

Module 17. Gastric juice- Stomach tubes, Fractional test meal, Chemical
examination for bile pigments, blood, starch and gastric juice. Estimation of free
and total acid from gastric juice. Tubeless gastric function test. (1 Mark)

Module 18. Analysis of calculi- Urinary and Biliary Calculi. (1 Mark)

Module 19. Electrophoresis- Different methods for electrophoresis, Advantages

and disadvantages of various methods. Electrophoresis of serum protein,
hemoglobin and lipoproteins and its interpretation. (1 Mark)

Module 20.1 Chromatography- Different forms of chromatographic technique,

Applications, advantages and disadvantages of these methods.
20.2 Urine Aminogram and chromatographic separations of amino acids, sugar,
lipids, drugs and toxins. (2 Marks)

Module 21.1. Infection, Immunity, Antigens, antibodies, Immunoglobulins, Complement

system, Structure and functions of Immune systems, Immune response, Immune deficiency
diseases, Hypersensitivity, Autoimmunity, Immunology of Transplantation and malignancies.
Module 21.2 Immunological methods and related techniques-Various antigen antibody
reactions, Immunodiffusion, Immunoelectrophoresis , ELISA, Fluorescent Immunoassay and
Radioimmunoassay. (2 Marks)

Module 22. Biochemistry Laboratory tests- Liver function test, Kidney function test, Gastro
intestinal function test, Malabsorption studies, Pancreatic function tests, Thyroid function
tests, Gonadal function tests, Foeto placental function tests, Lipid profile, Cardiac Markers,
Tumor markers, GTT, GCT, Glycated hemoglobin. (1 Mark)

Module 23. Toxicology – General methods of analysis and screening tests for
common drugs used in therapy. (1 Mark)

Module 24. Organization and management of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory.

(1 Mark)

Module 25.1 Automation- Semi auto analyzer and Auto analyzers-Different types,
Advantages and Recent trends.
25.2 Laboratory Informatics. (2 Marks)

Module 26. Quality Control- Accuracy, Precision, Sensitivity, Specificity, Standard

deviation, Preanalytical variables and analytical variables. QC charts, QC sera,
Internal and External Quality Control Programme. (1 Mark)

NOTE: - It may be noted that apart from the topics detailed

above, questions from other topics prescribed for the
educational qualification of the post may appear in the
question paper. There is no undertaking that all the topics
above may be covered in the question paper.