PTCB Practice Test #6 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A laminar flow hood must be operated for how long before use to ensure a clean environment?
- 5 minutes
- 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 10 minutes
- 1 hour
Correct answer: 30 minutes
According to USP 797 guidelines, laminar airflow workbenches (LAFWs) must be operated for at least 30 minutes before being used for sterile compounding to ensure adequate air purging.
Question 2: Which of the following is the correct ISO class for a horizontal laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) used for IV compounding?
- ISO Class 8
- ISO Class 5 (Correct answer)
- ISO Class 7
- ISO Class 3
Correct answer: ISO Class 5
The critical zone (where sterile products are prepared) in a LAFW must meet ISO Class 5 (formerly Class 100), with no more than 3,520 particles ≥ 0.5 µm per cubic meter of air.
Question 3: What is the correct technique for withdrawing medication from a single-dose vial?
- Inject air equal to the volume you will withdraw, then pull back on the syringe (Correct answer)
- No special technique needed
- Always use a filter needle
- Use negative pressure to prevent contamination
Correct answer: Inject air equal to the volume you will withdraw, then pull back on the syringe
When withdrawing from a vial, inject a volume of air equal to the volume to be withdrawn to create positive pressure, facilitating fluid withdrawal. For multi-dose vials, this prevents creation of a vacuum.
Question 4: How should a pharmacy technician respond if they discover a medication error after dispensing?
- Attempt to fix it without telling anyone
- Do nothing unless the patient complains
- Report it immediately to the pharmacist (Correct answer)
- Wait until the end of the shift to report
Correct answer: Report it immediately to the pharmacist
Medication errors must be reported immediately to the pharmacist, who determines patient safety risk and notifies the prescriber if needed. Transparency is essential for patient safety and error prevention programs.
Question 5: Which of the following describes the "right" way to document a controlled substance wastage?
- One person can document and waste independently
- Wastage must be witnessed and co-signed by a second licensed healthcare provider (Correct answer)
- Document only after the end of shift
- Wastage documentation is optional for Schedule IV drugs
Correct answer: Wastage must be witnessed and co-signed by a second licensed healthcare provider
Controlled substance wastage must be witnessed by a second authorized healthcare provider and co-signed on the appropriate documentation to ensure accountability and prevent diversion.
Question 6: What information is NOT required on a medication label for a compounded sterile preparation (CSP)?
- Patient's name and room number
- Prescriber's home phone number (Correct answer)
- Drug name, strength, and volume
- Beyond-use date and storage conditions
Correct answer: Prescriber's home phone number
A CSP label must include patient name/ID, drug name, strength, volume, route of administration, beyond-use date, storage conditions, and pharmacy info. The prescriber's home phone number is NOT a required element.
PTCB Practice Test #6 2
A laminar flow hood must be operated for how long before use to ensure a clean environment?