Pharmacy Inventory Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pharmacy uses ABC analysis for inventory control. Which category represents the highest-value items requiring tightest control?
- Category C
- Category B
- Category A (Correct answer)
- Category D
Correct answer: Category A
In ABC analysis, Category A items represent the highest-value, lowest-volume inventory requiring the most rigorous monitoring and control.
Question 2: Which document must accompany a shipment of Schedule II controlled substances from a wholesaler to a pharmacy?
- DEA Form 106
- DEA Form 41
- A completed DEA Form 222 or CSOS transaction (Correct answer)
- A standard commercial invoice only
Correct answer: A completed DEA Form 222 or CSOS transaction
A DEA Form 222 or CSOS electronic order must accompany Schedule II controlled substance transfers between registrants.
Question 3: What is 'safety stock' in pharmacy inventory?
- Medications stored in a locked safe
- Extra inventory held to protect against unexpected demand or supply delays (Correct answer)
- Stock designated only for emergency dispensing
- Medications past their expiration date kept for reference
Correct answer: Extra inventory held to protect against unexpected demand or supply delays
Safety stock is buffer inventory kept on hand to prevent stockouts caused by unpredictable demand spikes or supplier delays.
Question 4: A pharmacy's want book (or want list) is BEST described as:
- A DEA log of controlled substance orders
- A running list of items that need to be reordered (Correct answer)
- A record of customer medication preferences
- A wholesaler's catalog of available products
Correct answer: A running list of items that need to be reordered
A want book is an ongoing list maintained by pharmacy staff to record items that have run out or fallen below par level and need to be ordered.
Question 5: Under USP <797> guidelines, which factor is MOST critical when storing compounded sterile preparations (CSPs)?
- Storing in amber bottles to prevent light degradation
- Maintaining appropriate beyond-use dating based on sterility risk level (Correct answer)
- Using FIFO rotation for all CSPs
- Keeping all CSPs refrigerated regardless of formulation
Correct answer: Maintaining appropriate beyond-use dating based on sterility risk level
USP <797> mandates that CSPs carry beyond-use dates (BUDs) based on their assigned risk category (Category 1 or 2) and storage conditions.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'drug diversion' red flag in pharmacy inventory?
- A wholesaler backordering a high-demand drug
- A consistent unexplained variance between dispensing records and physical count of a controlled substance (Correct answer)
- A manufacturer issuing a voluntary recall
- A patient requesting early refill due to vacation
Correct answer: A consistent unexplained variance between dispensing records and physical count of a controlled substance
Consistent discrepancies between dispensing records and physical counts of controlled substances are a primary red flag for drug diversion.
Question 7: A pharmacy is required to maintain records of Schedule II controlled substance receipts for how long under federal DEA regulations?
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 7 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Federal DEA regulations require pharmacies to maintain records of Schedule II controlled substance transactions for a minimum of 2 years.
Pharmacy Inventory Management 5
A pharmacy uses ABC analysis for inventory control.
Which category represents the highest-value items requiring tightest control?