Mixed Deck — All PTCE Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real PTCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All PTCE Topics flashcards as text
Which type of balance is required by USP for weighing ingredients less than 120 mg in a compounding pharmacy?
Answer: Class III prescription balance or analytical balance
A Class III torsion or analytical balance with a sensitivity requirement of 6 mg is needed for weighing small quantities accurately.
When a pharmacy technician loads medications into an automated dispensing cabinet, which step is essential to prevent a wrong-drug error?
Answer: Scan the medication barcode and verify it matches the ADC pocket contents before loading
Scanning the barcode before loading verifies that the correct drug and dose are placed in the correct pocket, preventing stocking errors.
What is the primary advantage of a robotic dispensing system (such as a ScriptPro or Parata robot) in a retail pharmacy?
Answer: It reduces dispensing errors and improves workflow efficiency
Robotic dispensing systems automate counting and labeling, which decreases human error and speeds up the dispensing process.
A patient picking up warfarin asks why they need regular blood tests. Which response is most appropriate for a pharmacy technician?
Answer: Explain INR monitoring ensures the dose keeps blood thin enough without causing dangerous bleeding
Pharmacy technicians can reinforce that warfarin requires INR monitoring to balance efficacy and bleeding risk, though detailed counseling is referred to the pharmacist.
Which auxiliary label is most appropriate for a prescription of tetracycline?
Answer: Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight
Tetracyclines cause photosensitivity, so patients should be warned to avoid prolonged sun exposure.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) belongs to which antidepressant class?
Answer: SSRI
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), the most widely prescribed antidepressant class.
A Schedule IV prescription for alprazolam may be refilled a maximum of how many times within 6 months of the original date of issue?
Answer: 5 times
Schedule III and IV prescriptions may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months from the date written.
Digoxin toxicity is potentiated by which electrolyte imbalance?
Answer: Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia increases the binding of digoxin to Na+/K+-ATPase, potentiating its toxic effects.
Which statement about medication adherence counseling is within a pharmacy technician's scope?
Answer: Reminding patients to take medications as directed and encouraging them to ask the pharmacist questions
Technicians can support adherence by reinforcing directions and directing complex questions to the pharmacist.
What is the primary purpose of a levigating agent in ointment preparation?
Answer: To reduce particle size and improve uniform distribution of the active ingredient
Levigating agents (e.g., mineral oil, glycerin) wet and reduce powder particle size before incorporation into an ointment base.
What does 'PRN' mean on a prescription?
Answer: As needed
PRN comes from Latin 'pro re nata' meaning 'as needed.'
Under USP , a low-risk compounded sterile preparation with no more than 12 hours storage at room temperature must be used within:
Answer: 12 hours
USP allows low-risk CSPs stored at controlled room temperature to have a BUD of up to 12 hours.
Under HIPAA, a pharmacy technician may share a patient's prescription information with:
Answer: The patient's caregiver who presents written authorization from the patient
HIPAA permits disclosure to authorized caregivers but prohibits sharing PHI without proper patient authorization or a recognized exception.
What is the primary purpose of providing a medication guide (MedGuide) to a patient?
Answer: To inform patients of serious risks associated with certain FDA-regulated medications
FDA-required MedGuides communicate serious risks, contraindications, and safe-use information for high-risk medications.
When a pharmacy technician performs cycle counts on an automated dispensing cabinet, what is the main purpose of this activity?
Answer: To reconcile the physical count with the system inventory count
Cycle counts compare actual physical quantities in the ADC against the system's recorded quantity to identify and correct discrepancies.
What is the role of a pharmacy technician when a 'hard stop' alert appears in the pharmacy information system during order verification?
Answer: Immediately notify the pharmacist, as a hard stop cannot be bypassed without pharmacist authorization
Hard stops block dispensing and require pharmacist review and documented action; a technician cannot independently override them.
Which drug class is used to prevent rejection after organ transplantation by suppressing T-cell activation?
Answer: Calcineurin inhibitors
Calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, tacrolimus) block calcineurin, preventing IL-2 production and T-cell activation.
A patient opts out of child-resistant packaging for their prescription. What documentation is required?
Answer: A signed waiver from the patient or their caregiver on file
PPPA allows patients or caregivers to request non-child-resistant packaging, but a signed request must be kept on file to document the waiver.
Which law established the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program?
Answer: Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) of 2007
The FDAAA of 2007 gave the FDA authority to require REMS programs for drugs with serious safety risks to ensure benefits outweigh risks.
A beyond-use date (BUD) for a non-sterile aqueous preparation compounded from commercial drug products and stored at room temperature should not exceed:
Answer: 14 days
Per USP , non-sterile aqueous preparations compounded from manufactured drug products have a BUD of no more than 14 days when refrigerated or at room temperature.