Microcytic Anemias
- Previous year questions on Microcytic Anemias for NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Postgraduate), from the Pathology section of the exam.
- Most questions here come from previous-year papers of Indian postgraduate medical entrance and licensing exams; where a paper and year are recorded the question carries them. The image-based questions are original vignettes written around an openly licensed figure, and were never asked in any exam.
- 40 live questions in Microcytic Anemias.
- 5 of 40 questions carry a verified exam year: 2017, 2019.
- Pathology is worth about 25 of 300 questions on the exam. See every subject’s weightage.
- Question set last updated 6 Sept 2026.
Q1.Laboratory diagnosis of thalassemia major are all except :
- ANormal ferritin level✓ Correct answer
- BNormal TIBC
- CMicrocytic hypochromic anemia
- DHigh saturation percentage
Q2.The normal total iron binding capacity is
- A0.5-1 mg/Litre
- B1.5-2.5 mg/Litre
- C1.0-1.5 mg/Litre
- D300-400 mcg/dl✓ Correct answer
Q3.A patient has received 8 blood transfusion in last few yrs, has Hb: 6.0g/l and RBCs 2 lakh/cu mm with MCV=64. Which of the following investigation is not required to be done in evaluating this patient?
- ATests for pulmonary hemosiderosis
- BGI endoscopy
- CUrine hemosiderin
- DBone marrow examination✓ Correct answer
Q4.An 18 year old patient's hemogram shows Hb 12 g%, RBC count of 6 million, decreased MCV (56), decreased MCH (29) and RDW of 14. What is the most probable diagnosis?
- AIron deficient stores
- BFolate deficiency
- CBeta thalassemia trait✓ Correct answer
- DNormal lab parameters
Q5.A patient has MCV <80, MCH <23. Which type of anaemia shall be classified?
- ANormocytic hypochromic
- BMicrocytic hypochromic✓ Correct answer
- CHyperchromic macrocytic
- DNormocytic normochromic
Q6.Which of the following findings is diagnostic of iron deficiency anemia -
- AIncreased TIBC, decreased serum ferritin✓ Correct answer
- BDecreased TIBC, decreased serum ferritin
- CIncreased TIBC, increased serum ferritin
- DDecreased TIBC, increased serum ferritin
Q7.Which type of anemia is seen in patients of rheumatoid arthritis?
- ANormocytic and hypochromic anemia
- BNormocytic and normochromic anemia✓ Correct answer
- CMacrocytic anemia
- DSideroblastic anemia
Q8.All of the following are true about iron deficiency anemia except:
- ATransferrin saturation <16%
- BDetected by serum ferritin levels even in earlier states
- CMostly presents without any symptoms with abnormal laboratory findings✓ Correct answer
- DLatent anemia is most prevalent in India
Q9.A 25 year old lady on treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has following lab findings: Hb-9gm/dl, MCV- 55fl, serum iron-30microgm/d1, ferritin 200 ng/ml, TIBC- 298 micrograms/dl. What is the most probable diagnosis?
- AThalassemia minor
- BThalassemia major
- CAnemia of chronic disease✓ Correct answer
- DIron deficiency anemia
Q10.Which of the following is true about intracellular iron homeostasis in iron deficiency anemia?
- ATransferrin receptor-1 iron responsive elements increase transferrin receptor mRNA concentration and synthesis✓ Correct answer
- BTransferrin receptor-1 iron responsive elements decrease transferrin receptor mRNA concentration and synthesis
- CApoferritin mRNA iron response element decreases and ferritin synthesis decreases
- DApoferritin mRNA iron response element decreases and ferritin synthesis increases
Answer key
Q1: A. Normal ferritin level; Q2: D. 300-400 mcg/dl; Q3: D. Bone marrow examination; Q4: C. Beta thalassemia trait; Q5: B. Microcytic hypochromic; Q6: A. Increased TIBC, decreased serum ferritin; Q7: B. Normocytic and normochromic anemia; Q8: C. Mostly presents without any symptoms with abnormal laboratory findings; Q9: C. Anemia of chronic disease; Q10: A. Transferrin receptor-1 iron responsive elements increase transferrin receptor mRNA concentration and synthesis.
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