List of Courses (Course Contents) for Admission test

COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF PAPER:

I. M.Phil and equivalent degree programs: (GAT General) 70 percent
questions shall be from all the disciplines mentioned in the eligibility criteria
and 30 percent from general ability (10% from English/Arabic, 10% from
general knowledge and 10% analytical/quantitative ability).
II. Ph.D degree programs: (GAT Subject) 80% questions shall be from the
subject, 10% from research techniques and 10% from technical writing.

Chemical Pathology

Diebetes Mellitus definition, its types and their description, insulin and glucagon secretion and
mechanism of action, hyperglycemia, Diagnostic tests like glucose estimation, glucose tolerance
Glycated Hemoglobin description and importance, Ketone bodies synthesis, diagnosis and
diabetic ketoacidosis definition, causes and lab diagnosis
Kidney functions like structure and function of nephrons, Glomerular filtration rate GFR and
renal function tests including clearance and filtration function
Clearance tests defination, urea clearance test definition, procedure and calculation
Creatinin and inulin clearance definition, procedure and calculation, uric acid estimation
including principle, procedure
Urine routine examination, Physical, chemical and microscopic examination
Amino acids classification, peptid bond, isoelectric pH and protein classification based on
function and physic-chemical properties
Plasma proteins like albumin, transferring, heptoglobin, acute phase proteins, ceruloplasmin,
globulin function and clinical menifestation
Heme synthesis and degradation definition, steps in synthesis and degradation, importance,
porphyria definition, causes, types and lab diagnosis
Synthesis of bilirubin, fate of bilirubin and excretion, bile pigments defination and their diagnosis
Jaundice definition, types and their causes and Liver function tests including different parameters
like bilirubin, SGPT, SGOT, total protein and alkaline phosphatse estimation, clinical
manifestation, hyper and hypo level
Lipids types, classes, fatty acids definition, types and lipoproteins definition, types and clinical
importance, cardiac profile including tests perfomed, their principle and procedure.
Tumor markers definition, examples and clinical importance
Urine routine examination, physical and chemical examination
Microscopic examination of urine, Disorders of lipids and biochemical Cardiac markers
Thyroid function tests, T3, T4 and TSH synthesis, secretion and mechanism of action
Semen analysis

Microbiology
Introduction to clinical bacteriology, sterilization, disinfection and antisepsis, structure
and function of prokaryotic cell, difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell,
Introduction & classification of bacteria, Structure & characteristics of Bacteria, Cell
membrane & its functions, Bacterial Endospores, Cytoplasmic contents, inclusions,
Genetic material bacterial growth and metabolism, bacterial classification, normal
microbial flora of human body, mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis, host parasite
interaction, Immune response to infection.
Medically Important Bacteria (General Properties, Pathogenesis, Lab diagnosis and
Biochemical): Gram positive and negative cocci, Gram positive and negative rods,
Nocardia and Actinomyces, Mycobacteria, Spirochete, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia and
Chlamydia, minor bacterial pathogen. Staphylococci, Streptococci:Streptococcuspyogens,
Streptococcus pneumonae, Enteric Gram Negative Rods: Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia
Coli& Pathogenesis of E.coli, Salmonella &Shigella, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas &
other Gram negative bacteria, Vibrio, Camphylobacter&Helicobacter, Haemophillus,
Brucella and Bordetella, Mycobacterium: characteristics and clinical importance.
Clostridium (Tetani, Botulinum and Perfringens).Neisseiae. (Neisseriae gonorrhea,
Neisseriaemeningitidis).Spirochetes: Treponema pallidum and Syphilis
Unusual Bacterial Pathogens, Antibiotic Resistance.
Introduction to clinical parasitology, Parasite (protozoan and metazoan) morphology and
classification, general principal of pathogenesis, immunology and diagnosis of parasitic
infection.Features and classification of parasites of medical importance.Procedures for
collection and preservation of clinical specimens for laboratory diagnosis and parasitic
infections. Life cycle, pathogenesis, clinical findings, laboratory diagnosis, culture,
prevention and control.Epidemiology and diseases caused by the following parasites:
Plasmodium spp.
Glardia lamblia
Entamoeba histolytica
Balantidium spp.
Ascaris spp.
Taenia spp.
Brugia spp.
Hymenolepsis spp.
Leishmania spp.
Trihomonas spp.
Wucheriabancrofti
Toxoplasma spp.
Trichurustrichura
Negleria species
Anacylostomaspp&Necatorspp (Hookworm).
Echinococcus spp.
Trichinella spp.
Schistosomes spp.
Diphyllobothriumlatum spp.
Flukes: blood flukes, intestinal flukes, lung flukes
Entomology introduction. Medically important vectors etc
History Virology, Introduction to Virology and Properties of viruses
Introduction to viruses, Nomenclature of viruses
Features, structure and classification of viruses
Baltimore classification, Basic steps in viral life cycle
Transmission of viruses, Viral Pathogenesis, Host Defenses
Viral Laboratory Diagnosis techniques, Antiviral Drugs, Viral Vaccines
Classification of medically important viruses, RNA and DNA virus families
Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Diseases Microscopy, Demonstration of viral antigen,
Virus isolation.
History, General properties, Replicative Cycle, Transmission & Epidemiology, Clinical
Findings, laboratory diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention, Hepatitis A, B, C,D,E,G viruses
Human Immunodeficiency virus Cytomegalovirus: Dengue hemorrhagic virus: Human
Papilloma Virus, SARC , CCHF and Ebola virus, Bacteriophase, Small pox, Herpes
viruses, Polio virus, Influenzae virus, Mumps virus, Measles virus, Rabies virus, Rubella
virus, Rota virus, Oncogenic viruses, HIV.
Introduction to medical mycology. History
General composition of fungal cell.
Taxonomy of medical mycology.
Classification of medical mycology.Introduction, Classification of medically important
fungi, Fungal species associated with AIDS.
General characteristics of medically important fungi and their significance to human
beings, Opportunistic fungi.
Specimen Preparation
Procedures for collection and preservation of clinical specimens for diagnostic purposes.
General Characteristics, Pathogenesis, Clinical Findings, Laboratory Diagnosis,
Epidemiology and Diseases, Prevention and Control of the following Fungi 30 hours
Aspergillus spp., Candida albicans, Fusarium spp., Cryptococcus neoforman,
Histoplasma capsulatum, Sporothrix spp., Philophora spp., Trichophyton microsprum,
Epidermphyton spp., Blastomycesdermastitidis, Coccidiodes,immitens,
aracoccidioidesbrasiliensis.
Antifungal sensitivity test, Antifungal drugs
Antifungal agents and therapy.

Hematology and Blood Bank

Introduction to hematology, physiology of blood and composition, introduction to bone
marrow, structure and function of bone marrow, blood formation in the body (Intra-
uterine and extra-uterine), factors governing hematopoiesis, erythropoiesis, different
stages and factor effecting on erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, different stages and factor
effecting on granulopoiesis, megakariopoiesis, different stages and factor effecting
on megakariopoiesis. Introduction to hemoglobin structure, synthesis and function.
Complete blood count and its importance, morphology of red blood cells and white blood
cells, introduction to anemia and classification of anemia, introduction to hemolysis
(physiological and pathological), introduction to WBC disorders, introduction to
hemostasis, mechanism of hemostasis, function of platelets and coagulation factors,
coagulation cascade, quantitative disorder of platelets, qualitative disorder of
platelets.Leucocytosis, leucopenia definition, causes and other reactive changes of
Myelopoeisis
Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) introduction, causes and laboratory diagnosis
Introduction and classification of leukemias
Acute Myeloblastic leukemia introduction, causes and laboratory diagnosis
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia introduction, causes and laboratory diagnosis
Chronic Myeloblastic leukemia introduction, causes and laboratory diagnosis
Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia introduction, causes and laboratory diagnosis
Hemostasis, Primary and Secondary hemostasis introduction and detail
Platelet structure and function, Platelet adhesion, aggregation and platelet plug formation
Thrombocytopenia and bleeding abnormalities
Bleeding disorders investigations for diagnosis of bleeding disorders hemophilia
Vascular function and disorder in hemostasis. Coagulation factor and Coagulation
Cascade Physiology of coagulation intrinsic / Extrinsic pathways
Systemic lupus erythmatosus and multiple myeloma, causes, pathology and laboratory
diagnosis, Lymphoma and polycythemia causes, pathology and laboratory diagnosis
Introduction to blood bank, immunoglobulin, structure, different type of antibodies
important related to transfusion like cold antibodies etc. Antigen antibodies reactions,
requirements of a standard blood bank, preparation of basic reagents, different
anticoagulant use in blood bank, ABO and Rh D group system, kell blood group system,
duffy blood group system, MNS blood group system, ked blood group system, other
blood group system, donor selection criteria, phlebotomy of donor, processing of donor
blood, blood products, preparation, storage and its importance, hemovigilance in blood
banking, cross match, types of cross match, procedure and importance of cross match,
anti-human globulin test, types, procedure and importance and quality control of AHG,
check cells, preparation and importance of check cells, transfusion reactions,
investigation and management of transfusion reaction, hemolytic disease of newborn,
classification, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of HDN, quality control,
external quality control, internal quality control in blood bank. Save blood transfusion
program, government of Pakistan.

Biochemistry
Biochemical composition and functions of the cell membrane; Chemistry of signals and
receptors; Structure, composition and classification and function of Carbohydrates,
Proteins and lipids; Vitamins, types and biochemical functions of vitamins; Enzymes,
classification, factors effecting enzyme activity; Composition and function of saliva,
gastric juice, gastric acid (HCL), pancreatic juice, bile and intestinal secretion; Digestion
and absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins; Body buffers and their
mechanism of action; Acid base regulation in human body; Biochemical mechanisms for
control of water and electrolyte balance; Mechanism of action of hormones.Balance food,
Major food groups, Metabolic changes in starvation, Protein energy malnutrition,
Regulation of food intake, Obesity; metabolism of carbohydrates (Citric Acid Cycle,
Glycolysis,Gluconeogensis, Glycogensis, Glycogenolysis, Pentose Phosphate Pathway),
proteins (urea and corie cycle), nucleotides (uric acid formation) and lipids (beta
oxidation); Cholesterol Metabolism, Fat Metabolism, Respiratory chain and oxidative
phosphorylation, components of respiratory, chain, electron carriers, ATP synthesis
coupled with electron flow, phosphorylation of ADP coupled to electron transfer; clinical
diagnostic enzymology. Minerals metabolism; biochemical function of Sodium,
potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iodine and fluoride;

MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
Introduction to molecular pathology:Testing of a nucleic acid with a clinical context. Specific
purposes: Diagnosis, Prognosis, Parental testing, Pharmacotherapy. DNA: History, introduction,
Types. Summary.
DNA Replication: Introduction, DNA and its types, Models for the replication of DNA,
Semiconservative replication model and its explanation. Summary.
DNA mutations and its types: Introduction, types (chromosomal and genes), subtypes of
chromosomal mutations (deletion, inversion, translocation, nondisjunction, Duplication) and
subtypes of genes mutations (point mutations, Frame-shift mutation). Summary.
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: Introduction (DNA to RNA to Protein), RNA and its
types, mRNA, tRNA and rRNA. Summary.
Transcription & Translation: Introduction to mRNA, Synthesis of mRNA, Difference between
DNA and RNA. Details of Transcription, Translation: Introduction, Genetic code, Amino acids,
steps in translation: initiation, Elongation and termination. Summary.
DNA Extraction from various biological samples. Like blood, semen, bacteria etc
Polymerase chain reaction: Introduction, History, principal of PCR, purposes, Steps in PCR,
PCR program, Basic requirements for PCR, Advantages & Disadvantages of PCR.Summary.
Real Time PCR: Introduction, Demerits of Conventional PCR, Principal OF real time pCR,
Reporter dyes and probes, Syber Green, Taq Man, and molecular beacons, detection methods,
advantages, Some other types of Conventional PCR, Summary:
Molecular methods in diagnosis of infectious diseases: Introduction, Diagnostic methods in
microbiology, Genotyping methods, RFLP (Restriction fragment length polymorphism),
Endonucleases enzymes.Gel electrophoresis. Summary.Hybridization: Definition, Introduction,
important features of hybridization, southern hybridization steps, applications, northern
hybridization, dot blot hybridization, colony and plaque hybridization. Summary.

Cytology and Histology

Introduction cell, cytology and History of Histology, Definition, importance regarding
different diseases.Structure of animal cell Mitochondria, centrioles cytoplasmic
inclusions and organelles. Cell Division Mitosis and meiosis.Appearance of nucleus in
resting and dividing cells.Types of tissues classification, types and structure,
functionsEpithelial tissues Functions of epithelium tissues, normal and different
pathological conditions.The connective tissue classification, types and structure, tendons,
ligaments and aponeurosis.The muscular tissue classification, type and structure, skeletal
muscles, cardiac muscles, mechanism of muscle contraction.The nervous tissue
microscopic structure of nerve cell, neurons, classification of neurons, axon,
dendrities.Functions of nervous tissues.Bone and Cartilage. Cell types, classification,
histology of bothNerve fibres central nervous system, peripheral nervous system.Normal
histology of skin Different layers of skin, Different pathological skin problems.Lymph
node cell zone of lymph nodes and distribution of T and B lymphocytes.Histology of
Liver Functions of liver, Tissues in normal and pathology.Uterus Layers in uterus,
functions of uterus, follicular phase and ovulatory phase, mammary
glands.Gastrointestinal system oral cavity, oesophagus- gastric junction, stomach, small
and large intestine,colon. Normal histology and different pathological
conditions.Identification points Importance to identify specific tissues in different organs
of the body.

Clinical Immunology and Serology

Introduction: chronological development and scope of immunology. Immunity and

immune responses: Definitions and types (specific and non specific).
Humoral and cellular immunity, Complement system.Cells and tissues of immune
system.The antigens: structure (simple and complex molecules, proteins and
polysaccharides) and immunogenicity. Tissue antigens: the Allo- and heterophile
antigens. The ABO and Rh blood group systems, their chemical basis, inheritance
&clinical significance. Immunoglobulins: structure and function; classes, subclasses,
types and subtypes; immunoglobulin genetics, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.
Immuneresponse to an antigen. Introduction to antigen-antibody reactions: methods for
detecting antigens and antibodies (agglutination, precipitation, complement fixation, EIA,
etc.). HLA & MHC and its role in immune response, disease and its significance in tissue
transplantation.Immunoregulation and tolerance.Autoimmune disordersCancer
immunology. Introduction to immunopathology: hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune
diseases and immunodeficiencies. Immunization (methods of immunization, vaccines and
adjuvants).

Histopathology and Microtechnique

Introduction to Histopathology and Microtechnique lab

Reception and Fixation of Biopsy

Fixatives Purpose, classification, types, preparation of fixatives, merit and demerit of routinely
use fixatives

Merits and demerits of good fixative and factors affecting fixation

Gross examination

Processing of tissues Definition and procedure of manual and automation

Dehydration Definition, purpose of dehydration, types, merits and demerits of each dehydrating
agents

Clearing Definition, purpose of clearing, types, merits and demerits of each dehydrating agents

Impregnation Definition, purpose of impregnation, types, merits and demerits of each

impregnating media.

Embedding definition, purpose and procedure

Cutting of tissue sections procedure how to cut processed tissue

Microtome Definition, Purpose of microtomy and types of microtome.

Decalcifications Definition, Purpose and different types of decalcifying agents

Confirmation of Decalcification. Different procedures of confirmation

Sectioning of paraffin block

Horning and stropping of knife Definition, purpose and procedure and different methods

Staining/dyes Principle of staining, preparation of stains

H and E staining Principle, procedure, rational of each step

Frozen Sections Purpose, procedure and importance

Cryostat Purpose and procedure of cryostat

Special stains Purpose and types of special stains

PAS stain

Sudan black B staining Principle, purpose, procedure and interpretation

Nissle Staining Principle, purpose, procedure and interpretation

Trichrome stain Principle, purpose, procedure and interpretation

Mallorys stain for connective tissue Principle, purpose, procedure and interpretation

An introduction to Immunohistochemistry