PTCB Practice Flashcards

Which method is used to prepare capsules?

Answer: Punch method

The punch method is a common manual technique used in compounding pharmacies to prepare capsules. It involves repeatedly 'punching' the open end of a capsule body into a powder bed to fill it, then capping it. This method allows for precise filling of individual capsules.

Which of the following is an error that is caused by the prescriber?

Answer: unapproved abbreviation

An unapproved abbreviation is an error directly caused by the prescriber when writing a prescription. Using such abbreviations can lead to misinterpretation by pharmacy staff, potentially resulting in incorrect medication dispensing. Other options like sound-alike drugs or transcription errors are typically related to dispensing or interpretation by the pharmacy.

When performing handwashing, hands should be washed for a minimum of?

Answer: 30 seconds

For effective hand hygiene in a pharmacy setting, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds. This duration ensures adequate removal of microorganisms and helps prevent contamination during compounding or dispensing.

A pharmacy receives a prescription for Pilocar 4% Eye Drops #15ml, i gtt both eyes bid. How many days will this bottle last?

Answer: 75 days

The prescription is for 15ml, with a dosage of 'i gtt both eyes bid,' meaning 1 drop in each eye, twice a day, totaling 4 drops per day. Since 1 ml typically contains 20 drops, a 15ml bottle contains 300 drops (15 ml * 20 gtt/ml). Dividing the total drops by the daily usage (300 drops / 4 drops/day) gives 75 days.

Which of the following represents the cost the pharmacy paid for the medication?

Answer: AAC

AAC stands for Actual Acquisition Cost, which is the actual price a pharmacy pays to acquire a medication from a wholesaler or manufacturer. AWP (Average Wholesale Price) is a list price, and MAC (Maximum Allowable Cost) is a reimbursement limit, not the actual cost paid by the pharmacy.

Which of the following can be flagged or alerted using patient monitoring functions?

Answer: Therapeutic duplication

Patient monitoring functions in pharmacy software are designed to identify potential drug-related problems, such as therapeutic duplication. This alert flags when a patient is prescribed two or more medications that have the same or similar therapeutic effect, which could lead to overdose or adverse effects.

Which of the following is the maximum dose for aspirin in an adult?

Answer: 4000mg

The generally accepted maximum daily dose for aspirin in adults for pain and fever is 4000mg (4 grams). Exceeding this dose can increase the risk of adverse effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding and Reye's syndrome in certain populations.

Which of the following containers protects the contents from other solids?

Answer: Well-closed container

A well-closed container is defined as one that protects the contents from extraneous solids and from loss of the drug under normal handling, shipment, storage, and distribution. Other containers have different specific protective properties, such as light resistance or tamper evidence.

Which type of medication order may be filled or administered when a patient requests it?

Answer: PRN

PRN stands for 'pro re nata,' a Latin phrase meaning 'as needed.' A PRN medication order allows the medication to be administered or filled only when the patient experiences specific symptoms or requests it, within the parameters set by the prescriber.

Which of the following is on the ISMP High Alert list for community and ambulatory setting?

Answer: metFORMIN

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) includes metFORMIN on its list of high-alert medications for community and ambulatory settings. High-alert medications carry an increased risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error, making it crucial for pharmacy technicians to exercise extra caution with them.

Which of the following is a role of the United States Pharmacopeia?

Answer: Establish standards for medication identity, purity and strength.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is an independent, non-profit organization that sets public standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, and dietary supplements. These standards are crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products and are legally enforceable in the U.S. by the FDA. The USP does not review medication errors, accredit healthcare organizations, or directly require error reporting.

What is the percent of hydrocortisone in the final combination if 60 gm of 1% hydrocortisone is mixed with 80 gm of 2.5 % hydrocortisone?

Answer: 1.85 % w/w

To find the final percentage, first calculate the total amount of hydrocortisone in each mixture. 60 gm of 1% contains 0.6 gm of hydrocortisone, and 80 gm of 2.5% contains 2.0 gm. The total hydrocortisone is 0.6 gm + 2.0 gm = 2.6 gm, and the total mixture weight is 60 gm + 80 gm = 140 gm. Therefore, the final percentage is (2.6 gm / 140 gm) * 100% = 1.857%, which rounds to 1.85% w/w.

How much sodium bicarbonate powder is needed to make 240cc of sodium bicarbonate solution at 0.10 N?

Answer: 2.016 gm

To calculate the grams needed, use the formula: grams = Normality (N) * Equivalent Weight (EW) * Volume (L). Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) has a molecular weight of 84 g/mol, and since it's monovalent, its equivalent weight is 84 g/eq. The volume is 240 cc, which is 0.24 L. Plugging these values into the formula: grams = 0.10 N * 84 g/eq * 0.24 L = 2.016 gm.

To make a 30 percent of 500cc alcohol solution, how many cc of 75 percent alcohol should be mixed with 10% of 1000cc alcohol?

Answer: 153.84 cca

To solve this, we set up a system of equations. We need 500cc of a 30% alcohol solution, which means 150cc of pure alcohol. Let X be the volume of 75% alcohol and Y be the volume of 10% alcohol. Our equations are X + Y = 500 (total volume) and 0.75X + 0.10Y = 150 (total pure alcohol). Substituting Y = 500 - X into the second equation gives 0.75X + 0.10(500 - X) = 150. Solving for X: 0.75X + 50 - 0.10X = 150, which simplifies to 0.65X = 100, so X = 100 / 0.65 = 153.846 cc.

In a 0.9 percent 250cc normal saline solution, how many meq of Na+ are present? [Na+ = 23, Cl- = 35.5]

Answer: 38.46 meq

A 0.9% normal saline solution means 0.9 grams of NaCl per 100 mL. For 250 mL, this amounts to (0.9 g / 100 mL) * 250 mL = 2.25 grams of NaCl. The molecular weight of NaCl is 58.5 g/mol (23 for Na + 35.5 for Cl). Since Na+ is monovalent, 1 mole of NaCl contains 1 equivalent of Na+. Therefore, 2.25 grams of NaCl is (2.25 g / 58.5 g/eq) = 0.03846 equivalents, which converts to 38.46 meq of Na+.

What would the retail price of 30 Risperdal 1 mg tablets be if 1000 tablets cost $ 2250 and the percent markup on prescription is 20%?

Answer: $81

First, calculate the cost per tablet: $2250 / 1000 tablets = $2.25 per tablet. For 30 tablets, the pharmacy's cost is 30 tablets * $2.25/tablet = $67.50. With a 20% markup, the retail price is $67.50 * (1 + 0.20) = $67.50 * 1.20 = $81.00.