Haematology: 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 · Haematology

Sample item

Which investigation best distinguishes iron deficiency anaemia from anaemia of chronic disease?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Serum ferritin

Ferritin reflects iron stores. It is low in iron deficiency and normal or high in anaemia of chronic disease, where it is an acute-phase protein. Both can be microcytic, so haemoglobin and MCV do not separate them.

Option by option

  • A. Serum ferritin (correct)

    Correct. Low ferritin means depleted stores.

  • B. Mean corpuscular volume

    MCV may be low in both.

  • C. Reticulocyte count

    Reticulocyte count is low or inappropriately normal in both.

  • D. Haemoglobin concentration

    Haemoglobin is low in both conditions.

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 General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Serum ferritin. Ferritin reflects iron stores.

Why is "Mean corpuscular volume" not the answer?

MCV may be low in both.

Why is "Reticulocyte count" not the answer?

Reticulocyte count is low or inappropriately normal in both.

Why is "Haemoglobin concentration" not the answer?

Haemoglobin is low in both conditions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology in General Medicine. It is low in iron deficiency and normal or high in anaemia of chronic disease, where it is an acute-phase protein. Both can be microcytic, so haemoglobin and MCV do not separate them.

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 Haematology?

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.