NAPLEX QBANK Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacist must compound a 1:10,000 epinephrine solution. How many grams of epinephrine are in 500 mL of this solution?
- 0.05 g (Correct answer)
- 0.5 g
- 5 g
- 0.005 g
Correct answer: 0.05 g
A 1:10,000 ratio equals 1 g per 10,000 mL, so 500 mL contains 0.05 g.
Question 2: When preparing an admixture, what is 'coring' and how is it minimized?
- Dislodging a rubber fragment into the vial; minimized by inserting the needle bevel up at an angle (Correct answer)
- Air bubble formation; minimized by shaking
- Drug precipitation; minimized by warming
- Light degradation; minimized by amber bags
Correct answer: Dislodging a rubber fragment into the vial; minimized by inserting the needle bevel up at an angle
Coring is a rubber-stopper fragment dislodged into the vial, reduced by inserting the needle bevel-up at a 45–60° angle and applying gentle pressure.
Question 3: What is the minimum percentage of active ingredient recovery typically required for an acceptable compounded preparation?
- 90–110% of labeled potency (Correct answer)
- 50–150% of labeled potency
- 80–125% of labeled potency
- 70–130% of labeled potency
Correct answer: 90–110% of labeled potency
Compounded preparations generally must contain 90–110% of the labeled amount of active ingredient.
Question 4: Geometric dilution is a technique used primarily to achieve what during non-sterile compounding?
- Uniform mixing of a small amount of potent drug with a larger amount of diluent (Correct answer)
- Sterilization of the final product
- Reduction of particle size by trituration only
- Increasing the beyond-use date
Correct answer: Uniform mixing of a small amount of potent drug with a larger amount of diluent
Geometric dilution ensures uniform distribution of a small quantity of potent drug throughout a larger diluent base.
Question 5: How many milliliters of a 50% dextrose stock solution are needed to prepare 1,000 mL of a 10% dextrose solution?
- 200 mL (Correct answer)
- 100 mL
- 500 mL
- 50 mL
Correct answer: 200 mL
Using C1V1 = C2V2: (50%)(V1) = (10%)(1000 mL), so V1 = 200 mL.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a 0.22-micron filter in sterile compounding?
- Sterilizing filtration to remove bacteria from a solution (Correct answer)
- Removing dissolved gases
- Concentrating the drug
- Adding preservatives
Correct answer: Sterilizing filtration to remove bacteria from a solution
A 0.22-micron filter provides sterilizing-grade filtration by removing bacteria from a solution.
Question 7: A levigating agent is used in non-sterile compounding to do what?
- Reduce particle gritiness when incorporating a solid into an ointment base (Correct answer)
- Sterilize the ointment
- Act as the main active ingredient
- Increase the melting point of the base
Correct answer: Reduce particle gritiness when incorporating a solid into an ointment base
A levigating agent such as mineral oil or glycerin wets and reduces the grittiness of solid particles in an ointment or paste.
NAPLEX QBANK Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding 3
A pharmacist must compound a 1:10,000 epinephrine solution.
How many grams of epinephrine are in 500 mL of this solution?