PTCB Review Exam Questions With Verified Answers

According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), abbreviations used during prescription writing: - Answer *Are prone to errors* The best reference for obtaining storage requirements for a particular drug is the: - Answer *USP-NF* [the USP-NF contains drug monographs that include storage requirements] A pharmacy technician must administer 1000 mL of TPN solution at 75 mL/hr. If the set delivers 20 gtt/mL, the flow rate, in gtt/min, will be: - Answer 75 mL/hr x 20 gtts/mL x 1 hour/60 min = 25 gtt/min Which of the following brand/generic pairs is correct? [A. Decadron/prednisone B. Aleve/ketoprofen C. Premarin/estradiol D. Ativan/lorazepam] - Answer *Ativan/lorazepam* - [Ativan is lorazepam]. The form used to report theft or significant loss of controlled substances is: - Answer *DEA 106* [correct as it is the DEA form used to report theft or loss]. Before using a laminar flow hood, the interior surfaces should be cleaned with: - Answer *70% isopropyl alcohol* The auxiliary label for amoxicillin oral suspension should contain which of the following instructions? A. Take with food B. May cause urine discoloration C. Shake well D. May cause drowsiness - Answer *Shake well* [because medication that is a suspension must be shaken to distribute the particles throughout the liquid for an accurate dose of medication]. An essential component of pharmacy quality assurance programs is to: A. maintain standards set by the DEA. B. focus on the individual employee's work performance. C. get the right drug to the right patient at the right time. D. provide adequate emergency stock levels - Answer *Get the right drug to the right patient at the right time* [because pharmacy quality assurance programs are put in place to guarantee the "rights" of pharmacy practice]. Which of the following, when combined with acetaminophen 325 mg, would be a generic substitute for Tylenol No. 4? A. Codeine 15 mg B. Codeine 60 mg C. Oxycodone 7.5 mg D. Oxycodone 10 mg - Answer *Codeine 60 mg* A reverse distributor for pharmaceuticals: - Answer *Removes and disposes of pharmaceutical waste* [A reverse distributor picks up expired and damaged drugs for disposal as pharmaceutical waste and does not distribute nor transport drugs for use] According to ASHP guidelines, a quality improvement program for home care should monitor the patient's: - Answer *Satisfaction and outcome*. Tylenol with codeine liquid is prescribed as "Give 2 teaspoonsful four times daily dispense 120 mL." The patient is a 2-year-old male. What is a possible reason to alert the pharmacist? - Answer *AGE* [Because the daily dose of acetaminophen and codeine are above the recommended guidelines]. Which of the following is a valid DEA number for Dr. Thomas Jones? A. AT1234560 B. AJ1234563 C. AJ2345615 D. AT2683517 - Answer *AJ1234563* [Because the second letter of a valid DEA number is always the initial of the prescriber's last name. If a DEA number is valid, the sum of the first, third, and fifth digits added to twice the sum of the second, fourth, and sixth digits yields a number with the same last digit as the seventh digit of the DEA number. For the key (B), you add (1+3+5) to 2x(2+4+6 ) and the sum is 9+24=33; 3 is the seventh digit] Which of the following sedative hypnotics is a benzodiazepine? A. Zolpidem B. Alprazolam C. Zalepon D. Eszopicione - Answer *Alprazolam* (Xanax) [Is a benzodiazepine] When an albuterol inhaler is dispensed, the patient package insert (PPI) must be included: - Answer *Every time the prescription is dispensed* [Because per federal law, patients must receive a patient package insert/instructions with each prescription, including refills] Which of the following medication pairs makes safe use of tall man letters? A. alpraZOLAM, lorazepam B. ALPRAZolam, LORazepam C. ALprazoLAM, LORazePAM D. alprazolAM, lorazepam - Answer *ALPRAZolam, LORazepam* [Based on the Institute of Safe Medication Practices] Which is the smallest volume, in milliliters, that can be accurately measured using a 1.0 mL tuberculin syringe? A. 0.05 B. 0.1 C.0.2 D. 0.5 - Answer *0.05* [Because tuberculin syringes are 1 mL with markings dividing the 1 mL into tenths and then into hundredths, and the key (A) is 5 hundredths] A patient who is allergic to penicillin has a chance of cross sensitivity to which of the following medications? A. Cephalexin B. Moxifloxacin C. Doxycycline D. Azithromycin - Answer *Cephalexin* [It is a cephalosporin and known to have a history of possible cross sensitivity with patients who have had a reaction to penicillin] Which of the following is correlated with poor medication compliance? - Answer *Complaints of unpleasant taste or side effects of the drug* [Because patients who associate their medication therapy with unpleasant tastes or side effects are more likely to skip/delay doses or discontinue therapy (poor compliance)] What is the percentage concentration of a solution that contains 500 mg/50 mL? A. 0.5% B. 1% C. 5% D. 10% - Answer *1%* [Because by definition the percentage of a solution is the number of grams in 100 mL. So 0.5 g/50 mL = x/100 mL. Cross multiply 50x = 50 x = 1 g/100 mL or 1%] A prescription reads, "Percodan tablets, dispense 120, take 1 tablet by mouth every 6 hours as needed for back pain." The technician should: A. refer the patient to another pharmacy. B. refuse to fill the prescription and return it to the patient. C. call the regional DEA office to report a forged prescription. D. fill the prescription as written. - Answer *Fill the prescription as written* [Because, per the prescription, you can take up to 4 tablets per day which means a maximum of 120 tablets in one month. This means it is a valid prescription for a controlled substance.] The prescription includes all pertinent information, so there is no need to take further action as indicated in Distractors (A), (B), and (C). To protect themselves and others from infection, all healthcare workers should use which kind of precautions? A. Airborne B. Contact C. Droplet D. Universal - Answer *Universal* When accepting a refill request from a patient by telephone, the pharmacy technician should obtain which information in addition to the patient's name? A. Medication's name and patient's telephone number B. Medication's name and physician's telephone number C. NABP number and patient's telephone number D. Refill number and DEA number - Answer *Medication's name and patient's telephone number* [Because it allows the technician to find the drug in the patient's profile and call the patient back if there is a problem] An outpatient prescription requires which of the following? A. Medication lot number B. Pharmacy address and phone number C. Physician's phone number and address D. Medical conditions - Answer *Physician's phone number and address* [Because it is the only information that is required on an outpatient prescription] Chemotherapy agents should be stored: A. alphabetically by trade name. B. in a separately identified area. C. alphabetically by generic name. D. in a locked cabinet. - Answer *In a separately identified area* [Because for safety reasons chemotherapy drugs should be kept in a separate area but do not need to be in a locked cabinet or stored alphabetically] A physician orders phenobarbital elixir 60 mg for a patient. The drug is available in a 20 mg/5 mL concentration. How many teaspoonfuls should be given for each dose? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 - Answer *3* [Because each dose is 15 mL (20 mg/5 mL = 60 mg/X mL, solve for X). 1 teaspoonful is 5 mL, so 15 mL is 3 teaspoonfuls] Which of the following is a calcium channel blocker? A. Diltiazem B. Atenolol C. Ramipril D. Nitroglycerin - Answer *Diltiazem* [Because only diltiazem is classified as a calcium channel blocker. Atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocker, ramipril is an ACE inhibitor, and nitroglycerin is a vasodilator] According to the DEA, all records related to controlled substances must be maintained and be available for inspection for a minimum of: A. 1 year. B. 2 years. C. 5 years. D. 10 years. - Answer *2 years* Which of the following drugs is a generic for Coumadin? - Answer *Warfarin* [Generic name of Coumadin is Warfarin]