Toxicology: snakebite in India: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Toxicology: snakebite in India

Sample item

A farmer bitten on the foot by a snake in a field in Maharashtra has progressive local swelling and bleeding from the gums. Which bedside test best detects coagulopathy and guides antivenom?

ACapillary refill timeBDuke bleeding timeCHess tourniquet testD20-minute whole blood clotting test

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. 20-minute whole blood clotting test

Viper bites (Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper) cause consumption coagulopathy. In the 20-minute whole blood clotting test, 2 mL of venous blood is left undisturbed in a new clean glass tube for 20 minutes and then tilted. Failure to clot signifies incoagulable blood, and polyvalent antivenom is indicated, repeated until the clot forms.

Option by option

A. Capillary refill time
Capillary refill reflects perfusion, not coagulation.
B. Duke bleeding time
Bleeding time tests platelet function and is not the recommended bedside test for envenomation.
C. Hess tourniquet test
The tourniquet test assesses capillary fragility, as in dengue, not envenomation.
D. 20-minute whole blood clotting test (correct)
Correct. Unclotted blood at 20 minutes shows venom-induced consumption coagulopathy.

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.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, 20-minute whole blood clotting test. Viper bites (Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper) cause consumption coagulopathy.

Why is "Capillary refill time" not the answer?

Capillary refill reflects perfusion, not coagulation.

Why is "Duke bleeding time" not the answer?

Bleeding time tests platelet function and is not the recommended bedside test for envenomation.

Why is "Hess tourniquet test" not the answer?

The tourniquet test assesses capillary fragility, as in dengue, not envenomation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: snakebite in India in General Medicine. In the 20-minute whole blood clotting test, 2 mL of venous blood is left undisturbed in a new clean glass tube for 20 minutes and then tilted. Failure to clot signifies incoagulable blood, and polyvalent antivenom is indicated, repeated until the clot forms.

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 Toxicology: snakebite in India?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.