Massachusetts Pharmacy Tech license test
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Inventory - CORRECT ANSWER - a list of goods or items that a business uses in its
normal operations. Pharmacies generally develop an inventory of medications based on what
they expect to need. rarely used meds might not be kept in inventory but instead ordered as
needed
Perpetual Inventory System - CORRECT ANSWER - a system that maintains a continuous
record of every item in inventory so that it always shows the current amount of stock on hand
Point of Sale (POS) system - CORRECT ANSWER - an inventory system in which the
item is deducted from inventory as it is sold or dispensed
Drug storage and monitoring - CORRECT ANSWER - - all prescription drugs shall be
stored at appropriate temperatures/conditions in accordance with the labeling of such drugs, or
with requirements in the current edition of an official compendium, such as the US
Pharamcopeia/ National formulary (USP/NF)
- if no storage requirements are established for a prescription drug, the drug may be held at
"controlled" room temp to help insure that its identity, strength, quality, and purity are not
adversely affected.
- ex: topicals are kept at room temp while insulin must be kept in the fridge
- appropriate manual or electronic temp and humidity recording equipment, devices, and or logs
shall be utilized to document proper storage of prescription drugs. Drugs should organized to
allow for proper air flow. food and beverages are not allowed to be stored in drug fridges or
freezers
Inventory Frequency - CORRECT ANSWER - Pharmacies are required to complete an
inventory of controlled substances bi-annually (every 2 years). Pharmacists must complete a
perpetual inventory count on all CII prescription drugs every 10 days.
,inventory returns - CORRECT ANSWER - Pharmacy inventory may be returned to the
drug manufacturer for damaged medications, drug recalls, and expired medications
record keeping - CORRECT ANSWER - every pharmacy must maintain complete and
accurate records on a current basis for each controlled substance purchased, received, distributed
and dispensed, or otherwise disposed of
- these records must be maintained for 2 years per federal law
Hard copy scripts must be filed in 3 separate files dependent on which schedule of medication
the script is written for: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Schedule II (narcotic) records
2. Schedule III to V (controlled substance) records
3. Schedule VI (non-controlled) records
Recall - CORRECT ANSWER - the action taken to remove a drug from the market to
prevent it from being dispensed to customers on that drug and have it returned by the pharmacy
to the manufacturer.
Injunction - CORRECT ANSWER - a court order preventing a specific action, such as the
distribution of a potentially dangerous drug
adverse effect - CORRECT ANSWER - an unintended side effect of a medication that is
negative or in some way injurious to a patient's health
types of recalls - CORRECT ANSWER - recalls are, with a few exceptions, voluntary on
the part of the manufacturer. The FDA may also issue a recall. Once the fDA requests that a
manufacturer recall a drug, the pressure to do so is substantial
Class 1 recall - CORRECT ANSWER - - most severe
, - where there is a strong likelihood that the product will cause serious adverse health effects or
death
class 2 recall - CORRECT ANSWER - where a product may cause temporary but
reversible adverse affects, or which there is little likelihood of serious adverse affects
class III recall - CORRECT ANSWER - where a product is not likely to cause adverse
effects
recall procedure - CORRECT ANSWER - when a manufacturer recalls a product they will
contact their customers with the following info:
- the product name, size, lot number, code or serial number, and any other important identifying
info
- the lot number is what we use in the pharmacy to verify we are pulling the recalled product off
the shelf
- reason for the recall and the hazard involved
- instructions on what to do with the product beginning with ceasing distribution
tall man lettering - CORRECT ANSWER - Practice of writing part of a drugs name in
upper case letters to help distinguish drugs that sound and look alike
- to avoid errors
- only for portion of drug name that are similar
laboratory parameters/tests - CORRECT ANSWER - These tests are part of a routine
checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions,
plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor disease.
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Inventory - CORRECT ANSWER - a list of goods or items that a business uses in its
normal operations. Pharmacies generally develop an inventory of medications based on what
they expect to need. rarely used meds might not be kept in inventory but instead ordered as
needed
Perpetual Inventory System - CORRECT ANSWER - a system that maintains a continuous
record of every item in inventory so that it always shows the current amount of stock on hand
Point of Sale (POS) system - CORRECT ANSWER - an inventory system in which the
item is deducted from inventory as it is sold or dispensed
Drug storage and monitoring - CORRECT ANSWER - - all prescription drugs shall be
stored at appropriate temperatures/conditions in accordance with the labeling of such drugs, or
with requirements in the current edition of an official compendium, such as the US
Pharamcopeia/ National formulary (USP/NF)
- if no storage requirements are established for a prescription drug, the drug may be held at
"controlled" room temp to help insure that its identity, strength, quality, and purity are not
adversely affected.
- ex: topicals are kept at room temp while insulin must be kept in the fridge
- appropriate manual or electronic temp and humidity recording equipment, devices, and or logs
shall be utilized to document proper storage of prescription drugs. Drugs should organized to
allow for proper air flow. food and beverages are not allowed to be stored in drug fridges or
freezers
Inventory Frequency - CORRECT ANSWER - Pharmacies are required to complete an
inventory of controlled substances bi-annually (every 2 years). Pharmacists must complete a
perpetual inventory count on all CII prescription drugs every 10 days.
,inventory returns - CORRECT ANSWER - Pharmacy inventory may be returned to the
drug manufacturer for damaged medications, drug recalls, and expired medications
record keeping - CORRECT ANSWER - every pharmacy must maintain complete and
accurate records on a current basis for each controlled substance purchased, received, distributed
and dispensed, or otherwise disposed of
- these records must be maintained for 2 years per federal law
Hard copy scripts must be filed in 3 separate files dependent on which schedule of medication
the script is written for: - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Schedule II (narcotic) records
2. Schedule III to V (controlled substance) records
3. Schedule VI (non-controlled) records
Recall - CORRECT ANSWER - the action taken to remove a drug from the market to
prevent it from being dispensed to customers on that drug and have it returned by the pharmacy
to the manufacturer.
Injunction - CORRECT ANSWER - a court order preventing a specific action, such as the
distribution of a potentially dangerous drug
adverse effect - CORRECT ANSWER - an unintended side effect of a medication that is
negative or in some way injurious to a patient's health
types of recalls - CORRECT ANSWER - recalls are, with a few exceptions, voluntary on
the part of the manufacturer. The FDA may also issue a recall. Once the fDA requests that a
manufacturer recall a drug, the pressure to do so is substantial
Class 1 recall - CORRECT ANSWER - - most severe
, - where there is a strong likelihood that the product will cause serious adverse health effects or
death
class 2 recall - CORRECT ANSWER - where a product may cause temporary but
reversible adverse affects, or which there is little likelihood of serious adverse affects
class III recall - CORRECT ANSWER - where a product is not likely to cause adverse
effects
recall procedure - CORRECT ANSWER - when a manufacturer recalls a product they will
contact their customers with the following info:
- the product name, size, lot number, code or serial number, and any other important identifying
info
- the lot number is what we use in the pharmacy to verify we are pulling the recalled product off
the shelf
- reason for the recall and the hazard involved
- instructions on what to do with the product beginning with ceasing distribution
tall man lettering - CORRECT ANSWER - Practice of writing part of a drugs name in
upper case letters to help distinguish drugs that sound and look alike
- to avoid errors
- only for portion of drug name that are similar
laboratory parameters/tests - CORRECT ANSWER - These tests are part of a routine
checkup to look for changes in your health. They also help doctors diagnose medical conditions,
plan or evaluate treatments, and monitor disease.
