Poison information centre: organization and function MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Poison Information Centre: Organization and Function MCQs With Answer provides M.Pharm students with focused practice on the structure, staffing, operations, and clinical roles of poison information centres (PICs). This set covers core topics such as 24/7 service models, telephone triage, toxicovigilance, case documentation, antidote management, laboratory coordination, legal and ethical considerations, and quality assurance. Each question is designed to test applied knowledge required for clinical decision-making, public health response and poison centre administration. These MCQs will help students consolidate concepts from clinical pharmacy practice and prepare for examinations and real-world roles in toxicology services and emergency poison management.

Q1. What is the minimum recommended operating availability for a functional poison information centre to effectively manage acute poison exposures?

• Business hours on weekdays only
• 12 hours daily including weekends
• 24 hours, 7 days a week
• On-call physician available after hours

Correct Answer: 24 hours, 7 days a week

Q2. Which professional is typically considered central to clinical decision-making in a poison information centre?

• Medical toxicologist
• Pharmacy technician
• Administrative clerk
• Public relations officer

Correct Answer: Medical toxicologist

Q3. Which function of a poison information centre involves systematic collection and analysis of poisoning cases to detect trends and emerging hazards?

• Case management
• Toxicovigilance
• Antidote dispensing
• Pharmacokinetic consultation

Correct Answer: Toxicovigilance

Q4. In initial telephone triage for an acute ingestion, which piece of information is most critical to determine immediate management?

• Patient’s socioeconomic status
• Time since exposure
• Name of the attending nurse
• Pharmacy of prescription refill

Correct Answer: Time since exposure

Q5. Which database or resource type is most commonly integrated into poison centre workflows for evidence-based agent-specific guidance?

• Local newspaper archives
• Clinical toxicology database (e.g., poisons database)
• Social media poison reports
• General encyclopaedia

Correct Answer: Clinical toxicology database (e.g., poisons database)

Q6. Which documentation element is essential for every poison centre case record to ensure appropriate follow-up and analysis?

• Patient’s favorite food
• Exact time and route of exposure
• Name of the caller’s employer
• Preferred pharmacy chain

Correct Answer: Exact time and route of exposure

Q7. What is the primary public health role of a poison information centre during a chemical mass-casualty incident?

• Issuing criminal charges
• Providing real-time exposure guidance and coordinating with emergency agencies
• Performing autopsies
• Manufacturing antidotes on-site

Correct Answer: Providing real-time exposure guidance and coordinating with emergency agencies

Q8. Which quality metric is commonly used to evaluate poison centre performance in telephone response?

• Average time to answer calls
• Number of brochures distributed
• Annual budget size
• Length of staff lunch breaks

Correct Answer: Average time to answer calls

Q9. Which antidote should a well-prepared poison centre ensure is immediately available or quickly obtainable for the treatment of suspected acetaminophen overdose?

• Flumazenil
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Pralidoxime
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

Q10. For poison centres, which legal/ethical consideration is most important when handling caller information?

• Advertising products to callers
• Maintaining patient confidentiality and informed consent for data use
• Sharing caller phone numbers on social media
• Recording calls without any documentation

Correct Answer: Maintaining patient confidentiality and informed consent for data use

Q11. Which staff role in a poison information centre is primarily responsible for maintaining the toxicology information systems and data analytics?

• Clinical pharmacist with toxicology training
• Laboratory phlebotomist
• Data manager/epidemiologist
• Hospital porter

Correct Answer: Data manager/epidemiologist

Q12. When evaluating a potential pesticide poisoning, which clinical parameter is most helpful to decide on the need for atropine therapy?

• Blood glucose concentration
• Presence and severity of muscarinic symptoms (e.g., bronchorrhea, miosis)
• Patient’s vaccination history
• Height and weight only

Correct Answer: Presence and severity of muscarinic symptoms (e.g., bronchorrhea, miosis)

Q13. Which statement correctly describes a key advantage of centralising poison information services at a regional level?

• Decreased access to specialized toxicology knowledge
• Uniform data collection, improved resource allocation and specialist availability
• Elimination of local emergency department involvement
• Delay in response times due to bureaucracy

Correct Answer: Uniform data collection, improved resource allocation and specialist availability

Q14. What is the role of a poison centre in recommending decontamination procedures after dermal chemical exposure?

• Advise immediate removal of contaminated clothing and irrigation with water when appropriate
• Recommend applying oils to the skin to dilute the chemical
• Advise to wait and see if symptoms develop before any action
• Suggest use of household bleach on skin

Correct Answer: Advise immediate removal of contaminated clothing and irrigation with water when appropriate

Q15. Which of the following is an essential component of a standard operating procedure (SOP) in a poison information centre?

• Guidance for nonclinical marketing strategies
• Stepwise case assessment, documentation, escalation and referral criteria
• Instructions for changing staff uniforms
• List of tourist attractions near the centre

Correct Answer: Stepwise case assessment, documentation, escalation and referral criteria

Q16. In case reporting, which coding system is commonly used internationally to classify types of poisoning for epidemiological analysis?

• DSM-5
• ICD (International Classification of Diseases)
• HTML
• UPC barcode

Correct Answer: ICD (International Classification of Diseases)

Q17. Which practice enhances the educational function of poison information centres for healthcare professionals and the public?

• Providing targeted training, alerts, and evidence-based guidance materials
• Limiting access to information to only physicians
• Avoiding publication of case series
• Refusing to collaborate with public health authorities

Correct Answer: Providing targeted training, alerts, and evidence-based guidance materials

Q18. Which laboratory test is most informative for confirming and guiding therapy in suspected organophosphate poisoning?

• Serum cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase) activity
• Hemoglobin A1c
• Serum lipid profile
• Serum magnesium only

Correct Answer: Serum cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase) activity

Q19. Which of the following best describes “toxicovigilance” performed by poison centres?

• Randomized drug trials conducted by the centre
• Continuous surveillance to identify, evaluate and prevent toxic risks in the community
• Marketing of antidotes to hospitals
• Issuing clinical licences to toxicologists

Correct Answer: Continuous surveillance to identify, evaluate and prevent toxic risks in the community

Q20. Which strategic relationship is most important for a poison information centre to ensure timely patient management and antidote availability?

• Partnerships with local pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories and emergency services
• Exclusive contracts with a single news outlet
• Collaboration only with international NGOs, not local hospitals
• Agreement with retail stores for nonprescription sales

Correct Answer: Partnerships with local pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories and emergency services

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