PTCE Inventory Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacy uses an automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) for controlled substances. Which statement about ADC management is correct?
- ADCs eliminate the need for DEA record-keeping
- ADCs must be reconciled regularly and discrepancies reported immediately (Correct answer)
- Only pharmacists may restock ADCs with any medication
- ADC records are not considered official pharmacy records
Correct answer: ADCs must be reconciled regularly and discrepancies reported immediately
ADCs must be regularly reconciled and any discrepancies in controlled substances must be immediately reported and investigated.
Question 2: Which of the following is a key purpose of maintaining a perpetual inventory for Schedule II controlled substances?
- To track the profit margin on each controlled substance
- To provide a continuously updated record of stock to detect diversion (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance billing requirements
- To automate reordering from the DEA
Correct answer: To provide a continuously updated record of stock to detect diversion
A perpetual inventory provides a real-time running count that helps detect theft or diversion of Schedule II controlled substances.
Question 3: Medications stored in the pharmacy must be kept at the manufacturer's recommended temperature. Which temperature range is considered 'controlled room temperature' (CRT)?
- 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F) (Correct answer)
- 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F)
- −25°C to −10°C (−13°F to 14°F)
- 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F)
Correct answer: 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F)
USP defines controlled room temperature as 20°C to 25°C with allowable excursions between 15°C and 30°C.
Question 4: A drug recall is issued at the Class I level. This classification means the product:
- Is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences
- May cause temporary health problems
- Is reasonably likely to cause serious adverse health consequences or death (Correct answer)
- Has minor labeling errors only
Correct answer: Is reasonably likely to cause serious adverse health consequences or death
A Class I recall indicates the product poses a reasonable probability of causing serious health consequences or death.
Question 5: Which of the following is the best reason a pharmacy would use a prime vendor agreement?
- To purchase controlled substances directly from the DEA
- To obtain lower pricing and streamlined ordering from one main wholesaler (Correct answer)
- To bypass state board of pharmacy licensure requirements
- To dispense medications without a pharmacist on duty
Correct answer: To obtain lower pricing and streamlined ordering from one main wholesaler
Prime vendor agreements give pharmacies preferential pricing and simplified ordering by committing most purchases to a single wholesaler.
Question 6: When a medication is found to be counterfeit or adulterated in a pharmacy, the technician should:
- Destroy the medication and document the destruction
- Quarantine the product and report it to the pharmacist, who will notify the FDA (Correct answer)
- Return it to the wholesaler without notifying authorities
- Continue dispensing until the supply runs out
Correct answer: Quarantine the product and report it to the pharmacist, who will notify the FDA
Counterfeit or adulterated medications must be quarantined, reported to the pharmacist, and reported to the FDA through MedWatch.
Question 7: A pharmacy technician is conducting a physical count during the annual inventory. The purpose of comparing the physical count to the book inventory is to:
- Determine the pharmacy's total revenue for the year
- Identify shrinkage, errors, or diversion of stock (Correct answer)
- Automatically reorder any medications that are out of stock
- Generate the pharmacy's tax return
Correct answer: Identify shrinkage, errors, or diversion of stock
Comparing physical counts to recorded book inventory identifies discrepancies that may indicate errors, theft, or diversion.
PTCE Inventory Management 3
A pharmacy uses an automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) for controlled substances.
Which statement about ADC management is correct?