Anticoagulants: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Anticoagulants

Sample item

Which laboratory test is used to monitor unfractionated heparin therapy?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Activated partial thromboplastin time

Unfractionated heparin activity is commonly monitored with activated partial thromboplastin time or anti-Xa measurement because of variable pharmacokinetics.

Option by option

  • A. International normalized ratio

    INR is used for vitamin K antagonist monitoring.

  • B. Serum creatinine only

    Creatinine informs dosing risk but not anticoagulant intensity.

  • C. Activated partial thromboplastin time (correct)

    Correct: aPTT reflects the intrinsic-pathway anticoagulant effect.

  • D. Bleeding time

    Bleeding time is not a heparin monitoring test.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Activated partial thromboplastin time. Unfractionated heparin activity is commonly monitored with activated partial thromboplastin time or anti-Xa measurement because of variable pharmacokinetics.

Why is "International normalized ratio" not the answer?

INR is used for vitamin K antagonist monitoring.

Why is "Serum creatinine only" not the answer?

Creatinine informs dosing risk but not anticoagulant intensity.

Why is "Bleeding time" not the answer?

Bleeding time is not a heparin monitoring test.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anticoagulants in Pharmacology. The correct option holds because: Correct: aPTT reflects the intrinsic-pathway anticoagulant effect.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Anticoagulants?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.