PTCB Practice Exam

Knowing which of the following can best assist a technician in the prevention of data entry errors? A. Names of medications B. Insurance co-payments C. Pharmacokinetics D. Physician contact information

Which of the following injectable drugs would be stored in refrigerator? A. Clindamycin B. Ciprofloxacin C. Cyanocobalamin D. Calcitonin-salmon

The requirement that a non-formulary medication be covered only if approved by the third-party payer is called: A. claims reconciliation B. capitation payment C. prior authorization D. claims adjudication

For a medication to be within the 5% margin of error permitted by the USP, the minimum amount that can be weighed on a Class A prescription balance is: A. 6 mg B. 12 mg C. 120 mg D. 120 g

What is the percentage concentration of a solution that contains 500 mg/50 mL? A. 0.5% B. 1% C. 5% D. 10%

A pharmacy technician receives an order for Lortab 5/500 mg tablets every 4 to 6 hours p.r.n. No refill information is provided. The technician should conclude that the prescription: A. is refillable for 6 months B. is refillable for 1 year C. may be refilled 5 times D. may not be refilled

Upon receiving notice of a drug recall, a pharmacy technician should immediately: A. destroy all stock that has the recalled lot number B. separate out all stock with the recalled lot number for return to the manufacturer C. send all stock with the recalled lot number to the FDA for testing D. call the FDA to report the quantity of recalled drug that the pharmacy has in stock

Upon obtaining initial patient information, the pharmacy technician should: A. review the information with other pharmacy staff to ensure clarity B. ensure that the patient understands the side effects of current medication C. recommend additional pharmacotherapy D. document known allergies

For a pharmacy technician assigned to stock replenishment, which item would be considered a high-alert medication? A. Potassium chloride injection 10 mEq/5 mL 30 mL B. Ipratropium bromide inhalation solution 0.02% 2.5 mL vials C. Epinephrine 0.1% syrings D. 5% dextrose and 0.45% sodium chloride injection USP 500 mL

Which of the following medications requires a caution to take with food? A. Ibuprofen B. Levothyroxine C. Azithromycin D. Tetracycline

POS computer systems help the pharmacy to determine the patient's: A. diagnosis B. co-payment C. drug allergies D. prescription history

What volume, in milliliters, of a drug for injection 250 mg/10 mL should be used to fill an order for 15 mg? A. 0.6 B. 6 C. 10 D. 16.6

In the absence of stability information, water-containing formulations (prepared for ingredients in solid form) should be assigned by a beyond-use date that is: A. the same as the expiration date listed on the product B. no later than 30 days C. no later than 14 days when stored at cold temperature D. no later than 25% of the time remaining until the product's expiration date

According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), abbreviations used during prescription writing: A. are no longer acceptable B. improve entry time C. are prone to errors D. facilitate the prescriber

Durable medical equipment may be reimbursable to the pharmacy under Medicare Part: A. A B. B C. C D. D

Which of the following is correlated with poor medication compliance? A. Taking the correct number of tablets at correct times B. Request for refill at the appropriate time C. Complaints of unpleasant taste or side effects of the drug D. Clear understanding of why the prescription was given

Concerning needle recapping, which of the following is correct? A. Used insulin needles are small enough that they can be disposed of in regular garbage B. Used immunization needles should be recapped before being placed in the sharps container C. Used immunization needles should never be recapped D. Used insulin needles are small enough that they can safely be recapped before being placed in a sharps container

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: A. 20 B. 25 C. 30 D. 35

OSHA mandates that healthcare facilities have specific plans in place to protect healthcare workers from which of the following infectious diseases? A. Influenza B. Pneumonia C. C-difficile D. Hepatitis B

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

Which of the following drugs is the generic for Coumadin? A. Ticlopidine B. Warfarin C. Metoprolol D. Clopidogrel

Which of the following medications is exempt form the Poison Prevention Packaging Act requirement for child-resistant containers? A. Nitroglycerin sustained release capsules B. Potassium chloride C. Isosorbide D. Cholestyramine powder

When mixing dry powder with 150 mL of distilled water to process a prescription order calling for reconstituted oral antibiotic suspension, 40 doses of 5 mL each, the final suspension, in milliliters, accounted for by the dry drug is: A. 50 B. 100 C. 150 D. 200

Technology that automatically documents administration of medication using electronic tracking sensors is known as: A. BCMA B. CMS C. DME D. OBRA

A patient who is allergic to penicillin has a chance of cross sensitivity to which of the following medicaitons? A. Cephalexin B. Moxifloxacin C. Doxycycline D. Azithromycin

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

The primary routing mechanism for a real-time third-party claim is a: A. person code B. BIN C. group number D. member nubmber

The most appropriate container size, in ounces, for dispensing 240 mL of liquid medication is: A. 2 B. 4 C. 6 D. 8

If a toxic or caustic material comes in contact with the skin or eyes, the immediate response is to: A. lie down and elevate the affected area B. call 911 and place an ice bag on the affected area until medical personnel arrive C. wash the area thoroughly with an antibacterial soap and warm water D. flush the affected area with large volumes of cold water

A physician order 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

Which of the following sedative hypnotics is a benzodiazepine? A. Zolpidem B. Alprazolam C. Zalepon D. Eszopicione

Which of the following products or services does OBRA require pharmacists to offer to Medicade patitents? A. Package inserts B. Discount prices C. Counseling D. Delivery

To avoid exceeding the 24-hour acetaminophen does limit of 4 g, patients taking Darvocet-N 100 mg/650 mg should be cautioned not to take more than how many tablets daily? A. 5 B. 6 C. 7 D. 10

The form used to report theft or significant loss of controlled substances is: A. DEA 106 B. DEA 222 C. FDA 356 D. FDA 766

How many bottles of humulin R insulin would be dispensed for a 90 day supply if the prescription states "inject 10 units SC every morning, 8 units SC at lunch, and 12 units SC at bedtime"? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 5

A patient wants to transfer a prescription from the originating pharmacy to another pharmacy. The pharmacy technician should: A. call the receiving pharmacy and provide the necessary information to another pharmacist B. inform the patient that it is illegal to transfer prescriptions C. accommodate the patient and process the transfer as expeditiously as possible D. refer the patient to an on-duty pharmacist to process the transfer

A pharmacy technician receives a prescription from a patient. The patient needs all medications to be crushed. Which of the following would you alert the pharmacist to before entering in the prescription? A. Oxybutynin immediate release 5 mg tablet B. Metformin 500 mg sustained action tablet C. Potassium 10 mg dispersible tablet D. Furosemide 40 mg tablet

The drug information source for a pharmacy technician to check for possible drug interaction is: A. The Red Book B. the American Drug Index C. Remington D. Drug Facts and Comparisons

If a third-party payer rejects 15% of submitted claims, how much does the pharmacy lose if it processes 25,000 prescriptions that average a cost of $12.00 each? A. $16,666 B. $20,000 C. $30,000 D. $45,000

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

The correct strength of sodium chloride in normal saline IV bags is: A. 0.45% B. 0.9% C. 9.0% D. 23.4%

Which of the following is the most important information to collect for a patient's pharmacy profile? A. Current marital status B. Current employment status C. Herbal and dietary supplements used by the patient D. Office equipment and supplies used by the patient

Which of the following occurred when a specialty pharmacy dispensed Lupron Depot-Ped for Lupron Depot-3 Month injection for an adult patient? A. Look-alike/sound-alike mistake B. Wholesaler error C. Prescribing issue D. Bar code validation error

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

When is it necessary to recap a needle, which of the following is correct? A. needles should never be recapped under any circumstances B. two hands should be used for recapping needles to ensure stability C. the "one-hand scoop" method of recapping is safer than using two hands D. all used needles should be recapped before being placed in a sharps container

How much dextrose, in grams, is contained in 1000 mL of D10W? A. 1 B. 10 C. 100 D. 1000

Which of the following is a calcium channel blocker? A. Diltiazem B. Atenolol C. Ramipril D. Nitroglycerin

The label of a medication that has been repackaged should include the: A. prescriber's name B. generic name(s) C. wholesaler's name D. patient's name

In The Orange Book, the letter "AB" rating indicates that products: A. are considered bioequivalent B. required clinical trials to determine the preferred route of administration C. required clinical trials to determine the efficacy of the drug D. are considered therapeutically nonequivalent

A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for insulin with the sig reading "52 units q.a.m. and 48 units q.p.m." As the prescription is entered into the patient's profile, the technician notices that the patient may not be taking medications as directed, and the compliance may be an issue. What should the technician do? A. Show the information to the pharmacist for consultation with the patient B. Omit alerting the pharmacist to the patient's possible misuse of medication C. Assume that the patient and his or her physician have discussed this situation D. Consult with the patient about proper dosing of his or her medication

When a patient is required to go to a network healthcare provider, the patient is insured through: A. a preferred-provider organization B. workers' compensation C. a pharmacy benefit manager D. a health maintenance organization

The information contained in the manufacturer's package insert for a medication can also be found in: A. the Physician's Desk Reference B. The Red Book C. The Orange Book D. Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy

Treximet is a combination tablet for treating migraines that contains sumatriptan and which other medication? A. Naproxen B. Ibuprofen C. Acetaminophen D. Diclofenac

The last two digits of an NDC number indicate: A. manufacturer B. active ingredient C. package size D. expiration date

A package insert contains instructions to store the medication at 10 degrees celsius. What is the temperature in degrees fahrenheit? A. 33 B. 37 C. 42 D. 50

Coordination of benefits is use when a patient has: A. no insurance B. only one insurance plan C. primary and secondary insurance D. only workers compensation

A common side effect of magnesium-based antacids is: A. heartburn B. diarrhea C. hives D. constipation

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

A physician's order calls for 400 mg amoxicillin t.i.d. for 10 days. The pharmacy has a 150 mg/5 mL stock concentration. What volume, in milliliters, of stock concentration is needed to fill the prescription? A. 13.3 B. 30.3 C. 250 D. 400

Before using a laminar flow hood, the interior surfaces should be cleaned with: A. methyl alcohol B. chlorhexidine gluconate C. 70% isopropyl alcohol D. 70% ethyl alcohol

When an order is received in the pharmacy, the order invoice must be carefully checked against the: A. floor stock B. pharmacy inventory C. purchase order D. want book

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

When an albuterol inhaler is dispensed, the patient package insert (PPI) must be included: A. only when the original prescription is dispensed B. every time the prescription is dispensed C. only when the patient requests it D. when refills are requested

When working with glass ampules to prepare an IV admixture using aseptic technique, which type of needle must be used? A. Vented B. Filter C. Insulin D. Transfer

Which of the following brand/generic pairs is correct? A. Decadron/prednisone B. Aleve/ketoprofen C. Premarin/estradiol D. Ativan/lorazepam

Productivity reports are primarily used by pharmacy management and staff to: A. identify poorly performing staff B. evaluate and improve workflow C. looks for ways to reduce inventory D. comply with federal and state law

Which of the following medications are included in the iPLEDGE restricted drug program? A. Amnesteem and Valtrex B. Isotretinoin and Avita C. Azelex and Tazorac D. Accutane and Claravis

To protect themselves and others from infection, all healthcare workers should use which kind of precautions? A. Airborne B. Contact C. Droplet D. Universal

Stock rotation is necessary to ensure that: A. damaged items are used first B. short-dated items are used first C. damaged drugs are used last D. short-dated items are used last

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

A physician orders amoxicillin 50 mg/ mL for a child at 1 mL p.o. q8h for 10 days. What is the total volume to be dispensed, in milliliters, if the amoxicillin stock is 125 mg/5 mL? A. 2 B. 30 C. 60 D. 150

The information contained in the manufacturer's package insert may also be found in the: A. Orange Book B. Merck Manual C. Physician's Desk Reference D. Drug Index

Look-alike/sound-alike medications are addressed in the Accreditation Standards of The Joint Commission because these products: A. are sufficiently separated when placed with the regular medications B. allow quicker filling of prescriptions and faster service to patients C. should be kept locked in the pharmacy safe D. having higher error risk due to picking errors

Antineoplastic medications should be prepared in which type of hood? A. Positive pressure B. Horizontal C. Laminar D. Biological

Which of the following is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease? A. Amantadine B. Alprazolam C. Amitriptyline D. Amiloride

Which of the medications is on the Institute for Safe Medication Practices List of Confused Drug Names because it is available in two different chemical forms that can be easily confused? A. Labetalol B. Hydralazine C. Nifedipine D. Metoprolol

The best reference for obtaining storage requirements for a particular drug is the: A. Physician's Desk Reference B. Merck Index C. Drugs Facts and Comparisons D. USP-NF

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

A pharmacy technician who places orders for pharmacy purchase has been informed by a manufacturer that Drug A will no longer be available. The technician should: A. file a complaint with the FDA B. inform the patient that the drug is no longer available C. write a letter to the manufacturer to petition for continued productions of the drug D. notify the pharmacist to research possible alternative drugs

Which of the following vital information should be readily retrievable from an inpatient medications profile? A. Home address and phone number B. Previous admissions C. Relevant laboratory values D. Insurance information

According to ASHP guidelines, a quality improvement program for home care should monitor the patient's: A. satisfaction and outcome B. physical examinations and laboratory values C. financial history D. personal history

A reverse distributor for pharmaceuticals: A. distributes pharmaceuticals to hospitals B. removes and disposes of pharmaceutical waste C. transports medications from the manufacturer to the wholesaler D. transports medications in an emergency

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

Special IV tubing is recommended for the administration of: A. nitroglycerin B. ciprofloxacin C. gentamicin D. penicillin

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

Which of the following statements concerning HIPAA regulations is most accurate? A. Education about HIPAA is optional and applies only to certain patients B. HIPAA affect only certain healthcare providers and does not apply to insurance companies C. HIPAA establishes federal protections for the privacy of protected health information D. Refill prescriptions are exempt from HIPAA requirements

Tylenol with codeine liquid is prescribed as "give 2 teaspoonfuls four times daily dispense 120 mL." The patient is a 2-year-old male. What is a possible reason to alert the pharmacist? A. Age B. Gender C. Quantity of medication D. Amount of Tylenol

Which of the following is a valid DEA number for Dr. Thomas Jones? A. AT1234560 B. AJ1234563 C. AJ2345615 D. AT2683517

Before aseptic manipulations are performed, each hand, nail, wrist, and forearm should be scrubbed vigorously for at least: A. 15 seconds B. 30 seconds C. 3 minutes D. 5 minutes

A physician prescribes 5 mg of a drug per kilogram of body weight b.i.d. for a patient weighing 110 lbs. How many 0.5 g tablets of the drug are required for a 10-day duration? A. 5 B. 10 C. 20 D. 40