Top 50 Quality Control Interview Questions for Freshers (Pharma Industry)
Quality Control (QC) is one of the most important departments in the pharmaceutical industry. It ensures that medicines are safe, effective, and meet regulatory standards before reaching patients. Companies hiring fresh graduates often test candidates on basic aptitude, chemistry fundamentals, and pharmaceutical quality concepts.
The following guide combines 50 interview questions commonly asked in Quality Control and pharmaceutical campus recruitment interviews. These questions include mathematics, chemistry basics, GMP concepts, and quality management principles to help candidates prepare effectively.
What is the difference between QA and QC?
Answer:
QA → Process oriented
QC → Product testing oriented
What is HPLC used for?
Answer: Separation and analysis of chemical compounds.
What does SOP stand for?
Answer: Standard Operating Procedure.
What is calibration?
Answer: Comparing an instrument with a standard reference to ensure accuracy
20% of 250 is:
A) 25
B) 40
C) 50
D) 60
Answer: C) 50
Convert 500 mL to liters:
A) 5 L
B) 0.5 L
C) 0.05 L
D) 50 L
Answer: B) 0.5 L
Find the next number in the series: 2, 4, 8, 16, ___
A) 18
B) 24
C) 32
D) 36
Answer: C) 32
What is the average pH value of pure water at 25°C?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer: C) 7
What is the chemical name of NaCl?
A) Sodium Carbonate
B) Sodium Chloride
C) Sodium Nitrate
D) Sodium Sulphate
Answer: B) Sodium Chloride
The average of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 is:
A) 25
B) 30
C) 35
D) 40
Answer: B) 30
1 liter = ? milliliters
A) 100 mL
B) 500 mL
C) 1000 mL
D) 2000 mL
Answer: C) 1000 mL
If x + 5 = 15, what is x?
A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 20
Answer: B) 10
Which gas is most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen
D) Hydrogen
Answer: C) Nitrogen
If 5 pens cost ₹50, what is the cost of 8 pens?
A) ₹70
B) ₹80
C) ₹90
D) ₹100
Answer: B) ₹80
Find the odd one out:
A) Apple
B) Banana
C) Carrot
D) Mango
Answer: C) Carrot
If Monday is coded as 1, Tuesday as 2 … Sunday as 7, what is the sum of Wednesday and Friday?
A) 6
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10
Answer: B) 8
Explanation:
Wednesday = 3
Friday = 5
3 + 5 = 8
Find the missing number:
7, 14, 28, 56, ____
A) 84
B) 112
C) 102
D) 100
Answer: B) 112
What is the main reason for making injectables germ-free?
A) For color stability
B) To avoid infection
C) To taste better
D) To increase quantity
Answer: B) To avoid infection
What is the key requirement of injectable manufacturing?
A) High temperature
B) Sterility
C) Strong smell
D) Bright color
Answer: B) Sterility
What is the atomic number of Sodium?
A) 10
B) 11
C) 12
D) 13
Answer: B) 11
Who discovered the electron?
A) Ernest Rutherford
B) James Chadwick
C) J.J. Thomson
D) Niels Bohr
Answer: C) J.J. Thomson
Which of the following is NOT a sterile product?
A) Injection
B) Eye drops
C) Tablets
D) IV fluids
Answer: C) Tablets
Which type of water is used in injectables?
A) Tap water
B) Borewell water
C) WFI (Water for Injection)
D) Rain water
Answer: C) WFI
Aseptic means:
A) Slow
B) Germ-free handling
C) Fast
D) Colored
Answer: B) Germ-free handling
What is terminal sterilization?
A) Sterilizing after filling
B) Sterilizing before cleaning
C) Sterilizing SPC data
D) Sterilizing people
Answer: A) Sterilizing after filling
Which process ensures no microbial growth?
A) Cooking
B) Aseptic filtration
C) Grinding
D) Mixing
Answer: B) Aseptic filtration
GMP stands for:
A) Good Manufacturing Practice
B) Good Market Policy
C) Global Money Process
D) General Monitoring Plan
Answer: A) Good Manufacturing Practice
PPE stands for:
A) Personal Protective Equipment
B) Production Power Engine
C) Pressurized Pipe Equipment
D) Product Packing Entry
Answer: A) Personal Protective Equipment
Who is responsible for product quality?
A) Only QA
B) Only managers
C) Everyone
D) Only operators
Answer: C) Everyone
Which element is liquid at room temperature?
A) Sodium
B) Mercury
C) Aluminum
D) Iron
Answer: B) Mercury
What is the atomic number of Carbon?
A) 4
B) 6
C) 8
D) 12
Answer: B) 6
What is the full form of API in the pharmaceutical industry?
A) Active Product Ingredient
B) Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
C) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient
D) Analytical Product Integration
Answer: C) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient
Which element has the atomic number 1?
A) Helium
B) Oxygen
C) Hydrogen
D) Nitrogen
Answer: C) Hydrogen
What is the pH value of a strong acid?
A) Equal to 7
B) Greater than 7
C) Less than 7
D) Equal to 14
Answer: C) Less than 7
What is Quality Control in pharmaceuticals?
Answer: Testing of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products to ensure quality.
.What is validation?
Answer: Documented evidence that a process consistently produces quality products.
What is stability testing?
Answer: Testing to determine how product quality changes over time.
What is a specification in QC?
Answer: Predefined criteria a product must meet.
What is the purpose of documentation in pharma?
Answer: To ensure traceability and regulatory compliance.
What is contamination?
Answer: Presence of unwanted substances in a product.
What is pH?
Answer: Measure of acidity or alkalinity.
What is microbial testing?
Answer: Testing for bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms.
What is a batch record?
Answer: Document showing manufacturing and testing history of a batch.
What is deviation in pharma?
Answer: Departure from approved procedures or standards.
What is CAPA?
Answer: Corrective and Preventive Action.
What is assay?
Answer: Determination of active ingredient quantity.
What is a reference standard?
Answer: Highly pure compound used for comparison.
What is limit test?
Answer: Test to control small amounts of impurities.
What is out-of-specification (OOS)?
Answer: Test result outside predefined limits.
What is GLP?
Answer: Good Laboratory Practice.
