ExCPT Test ExCPT Pharmacy Calculations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A prescription calls for 250 mg of amoxicillin. The available suspension is 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should be dispensed per dose?
- 5 mL
- 10 mL (Correct answer)
- 2.5 mL
- 20 mL
Correct answer: 10 mL
250 mg ÷ 125 mg/5 mL = 10 mL per dose.
Question 2: A patient needs 1.5 g of a medication. The tablets available are 500 mg each. How many tablets are needed?
- 2 tablets
- 3 tablets (Correct answer)
- 4 tablets
- 1.5 tablets
Correct answer: 3 tablets
1.5 g = 1500 mg; 1500 mg ÷ 500 mg/tablet = 3 tablets.
Question 3: A pharmacy technician needs to prepare 200 mL of a 2% solution. How many grams of solute are required?
- 2 g
- 4 g (Correct answer)
- 1 g
- 0.4 g
Correct answer: 4 g
2% means 2 g per 100 mL, so 200 mL requires 4 g.
Question 4: If a drug costs $0.85 per tablet and the patient needs a 30-day supply of 2 tablets per day, what is the total drug cost?
- $25.50
- $51.00 (Correct answer)
- $17.00
- $34.00
Correct answer: $51.00
2 tablets/day × 30 days = 60 tablets; 60 × $0.85 = $51.00.
Question 5: A physician orders heparin 1,000 units/hr via IV infusion. The available bag contains 25,000 units in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
- 5 mL/hr
- 10 mL/hr (Correct answer)
- 15 mL/hr
- 20 mL/hr
Correct answer: 10 mL/hr
Concentration = 25,000 units ÷ 250 mL = 100 units/mL; 1,000 units ÷ 100 units/mL = 10 mL/hr.
Question 6: A prescription requires 454 g of a 1% hydrocortisone cream. How many grams of hydrocortisone active ingredient are needed?
- 4.54 g (Correct answer)
- 45.4 g
- 0.454 g
- 1 g
Correct answer: 4.54 g
1% of 454 g = 0.01 × 454 = 4.54 g of active ingredient.
ExCPT Test ExCPT Pharmacy Calculations 1
A prescription calls for 250 mg of amoxicillin.
The available suspension is 125 mg/5 mL.
How many mL should be dispensed per dose?