CSPT Storage, Handling, and Transport 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacy receives a shipment of CSPs that were shipped with a temperature monitor showing a 4-hour excursion to 35°C. What should occur?
- Accept the shipment and store normally
- Accept but shorten the BUD by half
- Reject or quarantine and contact the compounding facility for evaluation (Correct answer)
- Discard immediately without documentation
Correct answer: Reject or quarantine and contact the compounding facility for evaluation
A documented temperature excursion requires rejection or quarantine and evaluation by the compounding facility to assess product integrity.
Question 2: Segregated storage of hazardous drugs from non-hazardous drugs in a pharmacy is required to:
- Improve inventory turnover rates
- Prevent accidental selection and cross-contamination (Correct answer)
- Meet DEA controlled substance regulations
- Reduce pharmacy refrigerator costs
Correct answer: Prevent accidental selection and cross-contamination
Physical segregation of hazardous drugs prevents accidental dispensing errors and cross-contamination of non-hazardous products.
Question 3: What type of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when unpacking hazardous drug shipments?
- No PPE is required for intact sealed packages
- Gloves only
- Chemotherapy-rated gloves and a gown at minimum (Correct answer)
- Full respirator and face shield only
Correct answer: Chemotherapy-rated gloves and a gown at minimum
USP <800> requires at minimum chemotherapy-rated gloves and a gown when receiving hazardous drug shipments due to potential surface contamination.
Question 4: How should a CSP labeled 'Do Not Shake' be handled during transport within a facility?
- Place in a pneumatic tube system for rapid delivery
- Carry upright and avoid any agitation or mixing motion (Correct answer)
- Store horizontally to prevent settling
- Invert the bag twice before transport to mix contents
Correct answer: Carry upright and avoid any agitation or mixing motion
Preparations labeled 'Do Not Shake' must be transported without agitation to prevent emulsion breakdown, precipitation, or particle formation.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'beyond-use date' (BUD) in the context of CSP storage?
- The manufacturer's expiration date printed on the original drug vial
- The date and time after which the CSP should not be used, assigned by the compounder (Correct answer)
- The last date the CSP can be refrigerated before freezing is required
- The date when quality testing must be repeated
Correct answer: The date and time after which the CSP should not be used, assigned by the compounder
A BUD is the date/time assigned by the compounder based on stability data and storage conditions, after which the CSP must not be used.
Question 6: A CSP stored in the refrigerator develops visible particulate matter. The correct action is to:
- Filter the preparation before dispensing
- Warm the vial to see if particulates dissolve
- Quarantine and do not dispense; investigate and document (Correct answer)
- Dispense with a warning label about visible particles
Correct answer: Quarantine and do not dispense; investigate and document
Visible particulate matter is a quality failure indicator requiring quarantine, investigation, and documentation — the CSP must not be dispensed.
Question 7: When storing multiple CSPs of the same drug in a refrigerator, which practice is essential for preventing medication errors?
- Arrange vials by size from smallest to largest
- Use first-in, first-out (FIFO) rotation based on BUD (Correct answer)
- Group all vials together regardless of BUD
- Store the most recently compounded batch at the front for easy access
Correct answer: Use first-in, first-out (FIFO) rotation based on BUD
FIFO rotation ensures that CSPs with the earliest BUD are used first, reducing waste and the risk of dispensing expired preparations.
CSPT Storage, Handling, and Transport 5
A pharmacy receives a shipment of CSPs that were shipped with a temperature monitor showing a 4-hour excursion to 35°C.
What should occur?