Medical abbreviations and clinical terms MCQs With Answer

Introduction: This collection of Medical Abbreviations and Clinical Terms MCQs is tailored for M.Pharm students preparing for clinical pharmacy practice exams and professional roles. The set emphasizes commonly used abbreviations, dosing directions, routes of administration, laboratory indices and critical clinical definitions encountered in hospital practice, prescriptions and patient charts. Each question probes practical understanding and safe interpretation—highlighting frequently misread or error-prone notations and clinically significant terms such as sepsis, anaphylaxis, INR and routes like intrathecal versus intravenous. Regular practice with these focused MCQs will improve prescription interpretation, reduce medication errors and strengthen applied clinical knowledge essential for pharmacists involved in direct patient care.

Q1. What does the abbreviation “qid” indicate in a prescription?

• Once daily
• Twice daily
• Three times daily
• Four times daily

Correct Answer: Four times daily

Q2. In clinical instructions, the term “STAT” most nearly means:

• At bedtime
• Immediately
• As needed
• Every other day

Correct Answer: Immediately

Q3. The abbreviation “PO” in medication orders stands for:

• By mouth (per os)
• Per rectum
• By injection
• As needed

Correct Answer: By mouth (per os)

Q4. What is the correct meaning of “NPO” on preoperative instructions?

• Normal posture only
• Nothing by mouth
• Nighttime only
• No parenteral orders

Correct Answer: Nothing by mouth

Q5. The prescription abbreviation “prn” is best interpreted as:

• With meals
• Before meals
• As needed
• Until finished

Correct Answer: As needed

Q6. In ophthalmology, the abbreviation “OU” indicates:

• Right eye only
• Left eye only
• Both eyes
• Eye ointment

Correct Answer: Both eyes

Q7. On a medication chart “HS” directs administration at which time?

• In the morning
• Before meals
• At bedtime
• Every hour

Correct Answer: At bedtime

Q8. The route abbreviation “IT” most commonly refers to administration:

• Into the trachea
• Intrathecally (into the cerebrospinal fluid)
• Into the tissue (intradermal)
• Into the tympanic membrane

Correct Answer: Intrathecally (into the cerebrospinal fluid)

Q9. In infusion orders, “IVPB” means:

• Intravenous push bolus
• Intravenous piggyback
• Intra-venous prime bolus
• Intermittent vascular port bolus

Correct Answer: Intravenous piggyback

Q10. The abbreviation “tid” on a drug label instructs dosing:

• Once daily
• Twice daily
• Three times daily
• Four times daily

Correct Answer: Three times daily

Q11. In prescription shorthand, “qod” commonly means:

• Every hour
• Every other day
• Every day at noon
• Four times daily

Correct Answer: Every other day

Q12. The symbol “Rx” on a medical form indicates:

• Refuse treatment
• Prescription or recipe
• Repeat yearly
• Remove excess

Correct Answer: Prescription or recipe

Q13. The dosing abbreviation “bid” directs administration:

• Once daily
• Twice daily
• Three times daily
• Every other day

Correct Answer: Twice daily

Q14. The route abbreviation “SC” or “SQ” most accurately means:

• Subcutaneous (under the skin)
• Sublingual (under the tongue)
• Intramuscular
• Intravenous

Correct Answer: Subcutaneous (under the skin)

Q15. The laboratory abbreviation “INR” refers to:

• Insulin normalized ratio
• International Normalized Ratio for coagulation
• Intravenous nutrition rate
• Infection neutrophil ratio

Correct Answer: International Normalized Ratio for coagulation

Q16. The test abbreviated “aPTT” measures:

• Activated partial thromboplastin time
• Alkaline phosphatase total
• Absolute platelet thrombus test
• Arterial pressure total time

Correct Answer: Activated partial thromboplastin time

Q17. According to modern clinical definitions, “sepsis” is best described as:

• Any positive blood culture without symptoms
• Localized infection without systemic effects
• Life‑threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection
• Fever and elevated white blood cell count only

Correct Answer: Life‑threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection

Q18. “Anaphylaxis” is characterized clinically by:

• Mild localized rash only
• Delayed joint pain after infection
• Severe, rapid systemic allergic reaction with respiratory compromise or hypotension
• Chronic skin dryness and itching

Correct Answer: Severe, rapid systemic allergic reaction with respiratory compromise or hypotension

Q19. The clinical term “tachycardia” refers to a heart rate that is:

• Less than 60 beats per minute
• Equal to 60 beats per minute
• Greater than 100 beats per minute
• Between 60 and 80 beats per minute

Correct Answer: Greater than 100 beats per minute

Q20. On Gram stain, “Gram‑positive cocci in clusters” most likely indicate which genus?

• Streptococcus
• Enterococcus
• Staphylococcus
• Neisseria

Correct Answer: Staphylococcus

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