ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) · India · NTA for ICAR
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) is a PhD, fellowship and lectureship exam run by NTA for ICAR, for candidates in India. Computer-based, 2 hours, 120 questions: Part A 20 (general agriculture, animal husbandry, current events), Part B 50 (core group), Part C 50 (specialised subject). +4 / -1, maximum 480.
Source: icar.org.in.
Checked against the exam body's published information. Formats and fees change; confirm the current edition there before you book.
Using the laboratory well: haematology, biochemistry panels, organ function tests, urinalysis, cytology, sampling for microbiology, reference intervals and quality control.
Our 16 ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF questions in this subject: 2 easy, 5 medium, 9 hard, across 7 units.
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
These 10 were written to ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF and are not shown on any other exam's page.
A dog with PCV 18% has 6% reticulocytes. Using a normal PCV of 45%, what is the corrected reticulocyte percentage?
D. 2.4%
Corrected % = observed % × (patient PCV ÷ normal PCV) = 6 × 18 ÷ 45 = 2.4%. 15.0% inverts the correction (6 × 45 ÷ 18); 6.0% ignores the correction, which overstates regeneration because the percentage rises as red cells fall; 0.4% is the PCV ratio alone.
Serum protein electrophoresis of a dog with hyperglobulinaemia shows a narrow spike in the gamma region. Which statement is correct?
D. A monoclonal gammopathy, most often a B-cell tumour, occasionally an infection
A narrow spike is monoclonal: one clone producing one immunoglobulin, most often from multiple myeloma or other B-cell neoplasia, though canine ehrlichiosis and leishmaniasis can occasionally produce it. A polyclonal gammopathy is a broad band. C-reactive protein migrates outside the gamma region and is not seen as a gammopathy.
In which species does in-vitro haemolysis most markedly raise measured serum potassium?
A. Horses and pigs
Horses and pigs (and some East Asian dog breeds such as the Akita) have potassium-rich red cells, so haemolysis releases potassium into serum. Most dogs, cats, cattle and sheep have low-potassium red cells, so haemolysis raises potassium little.
A pleural effusion from a cat is milky, with mainly small lymphocytes and a triglyceride concentration higher than serum. What is it?
B. Chylous effusion
Chylous effusions have triglyceride higher than serum and are often dominated by small lymphocytes (neutrophils increase with chronicity). Pyothorax shows many degenerate neutrophils with bacteria; FIP effusion is high in protein and globulin; haemorrhagic effusion shows red cells with erythrophagocytosis.
In a reference population study of 200 healthy dogs, how many would be expected to fall outside a 95% reference interval for one analyte?
B. 10
5% of 200 = 10 (about 5 below and 5 above). 5 uses the percentage as a count; 0 assumes healthy animals never fall outside; 20 uses 10%.
Before testing, a clinician estimates a 20% probability of disease. A positive result is obtained on a test with a positive likelihood ratio of 18. What is the post-test probability?
C. 81.8%
Pre-test odds = 0.20 ÷ 0.80 = 0.25; post-test odds = 0.25 × 18 = 4.5; probability = 4.5 ÷ 5.5 = 81.8%. 18% confuses the LR with a probability; 36% multiplies 20% by 1.8; 95% is not derived from these numbers.
Two independent tests with specificities 90% and 95% are used in series (positive only if both are positive). What is the combined specificity?
A. 99.5%
Series specificity = 1 - (1 - 0.90)(1 - 0.95) = 1 - 0.005 = 99.5%. 85.5% is the parallel specificity (0.90 × 0.95); 92.5% the average; 90% the lower value. Series testing increases specificity at the cost of sensitivity.
What distinguishes external quality assessment (proficiency testing) from internal quality control?
C. It compares results on unknown samples with other laboratories
External quality assessment sends the same unknown samples to many laboratories and compares results, detecting bias that internal controls (known values, run daily) cannot. It does not replace calibration or internal QC.
Two control levels on the same run are at +2.5 SD and -2.1 SD. Which Westgard rule is violated?
A. R-4s, suggesting random error
The range between the two controls is 2.5 - (-2.1) = 4.6 SD, with one control above +2 SD and the other below -2 SD, violating R-4s, a random error rule. No control exceeds 3 SD (so no 1-3s), the two are not beyond 2 SD on the same side (no 2-2s), and 4-1s needs four results beyond 1 SD on one side.
A cow has Hb 12 g/dL and RBC 5.6 × 10^12/L. What is the mean cell haemoglobin (MCH)?
C. 21.4 pg
MCH (pg) = Hb (g/dL) × 10 ÷ RBC (× 10^12/L) = 12 × 10 ÷ 5.6 = 21.4 pg. 2.1 omits the factor of 10; 46.7 inverts and scales (5.6 ÷ 12 × 100); 67.2 multiplies Hb by RBC.
This plan follows where our questions actually fall, so the time goes where the marks are likely to be. It is our reading of the syllabus, not the exam body's weighting.
Read the manual chapters for these first and do every worked question you can find on them.
Aim for one sitting per unit, then mixed questions across them.
Learn the definitions, classifications and standard numbers; these units are more often recalled than worked.
Come back to these after a first pass, untimed, and read every explanation, including for the options you rejected.
Do these early in revision so they are fast on the day.
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