Patient Safety & Quality Assurance
(26.25% of the PTCB Exam) Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of patient safety in pharmacy practice?
✔✔ To prevent medication errors and protect patients from harm.
What should a pharmacy technician do first if a patient reports a possible medication error?
✔✔ Notify the pharmacist immediately.
What is the purpose of using tall-man lettering on drug labels?
✔✔ To distinguish look-alike drug names and reduce confusion.
Why must a technician always check the NDC number when filling prescriptions?
✔✔ To verify the correct drug, strength, and manufacturer.
What does the term "sound-alike/look-alike drugs" refer to?
✔✔ Medications with similar names or appearances that can cause errors.
1
,What should be verified during the "five rights" of medication safety?
✔✔ Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
What is the purpose of using barcoding technology in pharmacies?
✔✔ To ensure correct medication dispensing and improve accuracy.
What is the first step when receiving a prescription to ensure safety?
✔✔ Verify patient information and allergies.
What type of error occurs when the wrong medication strength is dispensed?
✔✔ Dispensing error.
What does the abbreviation LASA stand for in pharmacy safety?
✔✔ Look-Alike Sound-Alike.
Why should high-alert medications be stored separately from other drugs?
✔✔ To reduce the risk of accidental selection and dispensing errors.
2
, What is one way to prevent cross-contamination during compounding?
✔✔ Clean and disinfect all equipment before and after use.
What should a pharmacy technician do if a prescription is unclear or illegible?
✔✔ Ask the pharmacist to contact the prescriber for clarification.
What is the purpose of a medication guide given to patients?
✔✔ To provide important safety information and instructions about the drug.
Why is it important to document and report medication errors?
✔✔ To prevent recurrence and improve patient safety systems.
What is the role of barcodes on medication packages?
✔✔ To confirm correct drug and dosage during dispensing.
What should a technician check before entering a prescription into the system?
✔✔ Patient name, date of birth, allergies, and medication history.
3
(26.25% of the PTCB Exam) Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of patient safety in pharmacy practice?
✔✔ To prevent medication errors and protect patients from harm.
What should a pharmacy technician do first if a patient reports a possible medication error?
✔✔ Notify the pharmacist immediately.
What is the purpose of using tall-man lettering on drug labels?
✔✔ To distinguish look-alike drug names and reduce confusion.
Why must a technician always check the NDC number when filling prescriptions?
✔✔ To verify the correct drug, strength, and manufacturer.
What does the term "sound-alike/look-alike drugs" refer to?
✔✔ Medications with similar names or appearances that can cause errors.
1
,What should be verified during the "five rights" of medication safety?
✔✔ Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time.
What is the purpose of using barcoding technology in pharmacies?
✔✔ To ensure correct medication dispensing and improve accuracy.
What is the first step when receiving a prescription to ensure safety?
✔✔ Verify patient information and allergies.
What type of error occurs when the wrong medication strength is dispensed?
✔✔ Dispensing error.
What does the abbreviation LASA stand for in pharmacy safety?
✔✔ Look-Alike Sound-Alike.
Why should high-alert medications be stored separately from other drugs?
✔✔ To reduce the risk of accidental selection and dispensing errors.
2
, What is one way to prevent cross-contamination during compounding?
✔✔ Clean and disinfect all equipment before and after use.
What should a pharmacy technician do if a prescription is unclear or illegible?
✔✔ Ask the pharmacist to contact the prescriber for clarification.
What is the purpose of a medication guide given to patients?
✔✔ To provide important safety information and instructions about the drug.
Why is it important to document and report medication errors?
✔✔ To prevent recurrence and improve patient safety systems.
What is the role of barcodes on medication packages?
✔✔ To confirm correct drug and dosage during dispensing.
What should a technician check before entering a prescription into the system?
✔✔ Patient name, date of birth, allergies, and medication history.
3
